Image forming apparatus and image forming system

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus providing services for general users, capable of getting rid of trouble to collect use charges. The image forming apparatus has: a connector to which a portable communication terminal is connected; a communication section for controlling the portable communication terminal connected to the connector, and controlling communication with the portable communication terminal and a management apparatus; a reading section for reading authentication information out of the portable communication terminal; an inquiry request section for sending the authentication information to the management apparatus, and requesting the management apparatus to inquire the electronic prepaid information based on the authentication information; a receiving section for receiving the electronic prepaid information replied by the management apparatus through the communication section; and an image forming control section for controlling whether to perform image forming processing or not on the basis of the electronic prepaid information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/620,163, filed on Jul. 14, 2003, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference and priority towhich is hereby claimed. Application Ser. No. 10/620,163 claims priorityto Japanese Patent Applications 2002-212327, filed Jul. 22, 2002;2002-231098, filed Aug. 8, 2002; and 2002-235606, filed Aug. 13, 2002;the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference, and priority to each of which is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an imageforming system.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, multimedia terminals for providing various types of serviceshave been developed, and are disposed at shops such as a conveniencestore or the like, in yards of stations or the like. The multimediaterminal are connected to various types of service provider companies,banks or the like through networks, and provide various types ofservices such as a shopping service for selling travel tickets or thelike, an ATM (automated teller machine) (a machine for automaticallydepositing and drawing money) service, a game, a fortune-telling or thelike.

Some of the multimedia terminals comprise various types of storage mediaslots such as a compact flush (registered trademark) card slot, a smartmedia slot or the like, or scanners, and provide services for readingdigital image of photographs taken by users or the like out of varioustypes of storage media by the storage media slots, scanning image dataof photographs, pictures or the like by the scanners, or printing theimage data. When printing the image data, the multimedia terminals canedit the image data and produce calendars, or print the image data withframes.

Further, some of the multimedia terminals prepare connection cables towhich communication portable terminals such as a portable telephone orthe like are connected, and provide contents for portable telephoneswhich download arrival melodies, waiting screens or the like from themultimedia terminals.

Further, some of the multimedia terminals comprise MD (Mini Disc) slotsand provide download services of music data. According to the services,the multimedia terminals connected to record companies through networks,and downloads music data desired by users to MDs. When downloading themusic data, the multimedia terminals can display music indexes, artistinformation, video clips or the like on displays, and make users listenone part of music.

However, because data which users can download according to the downloadservices of music data are limited to the music data, the users can notobtain not only the music data but also related information such as songwords, music sheets, artist information or the like. Even if the userscan obtain the related information at the same time of downloading themusic data, because the music data are distributed from record companieshaving sales licenses of the music data respectively, the users can notobtain the latest information after the music data are sold as CDs orMDs or detailed related information concerning the music data. Further,because music sheet information is publication information, the userscan not obtain it easily with publishing licenses (copyrights ofwritings) of publishing companies.

In addition, recently, a service called a POD (Print On Demand) or a BOD(Book On Demand) has been popularized. The POD/BOD service is, forexample, a publishing service for managing publication data which areelectronic data of published articles of magazines, novels or the likeas a data base, printing/binding desired copies according to demand forusers, and providing the copies for the users.

That is, because the POD/BOD service is a method for printing/bindingand providing the copies even when the user demands, the POD/BOD servicecan provide the copies for the user who demands them certainly. Further,because the POD/BOD service is not required to keep a stock ofprinted/bound products, it is possible to reduce costs caused byinventory management or return operations. In view of above-describedadvantage, the POD/BOD is proper to provide a small number of copies ofpublications.

However, the POD/BOD service is usually provided by the publishingcompany holding the copyright of the publication. That is, the useraccepts the BOD service of the publication from the publishing companyholding the copyright of the publication, for every publishing company.Therefore, for example, it is impossible to arrange articles publishedin magazines published from different publishing companies respectively,and obtain one publication.

Usually, in case image forming apparatuses including the above-describedmultimedia terminals are disposed at shops to provide theabove-described services for general users, and profit from theservices, the following method has been generalized as a method forcollecting use charges. That is, an accounting apparatus comprising acoin insertion slot or a coin container is connected to the imageforming apparatus, and permits the user to use the image formingapparatus according to the mount corresponding to coins inserted in thecoin insertion slot.

The method for collecting use charges by the accounting apparatus has anadvantage that the user can use the image forming apparatus to printonly one copy easily. However, the method has a disadvantage that theuser is required to prepare coins ever when using the image formingapparatus and has trouble. Further, the provider of the service isrequired to carry out regular work such as collection of inserted coins,maintenance of the accounting apparatus or the like. Therefore,enterprises owning a plurality of image forming apparatuses havetroublesome matters.

In order to get rid of the trouble, a method for collecting use chargeson a prepaid card has been popularized. The prepaid card is a magneticcard storing information on usable balance, and the user buys theprepaid card previously. Therefore, when the user uses the image formingapparatus, the image forming apparatus collects use charges by takingthe amount corresponding to use of the user off the usable balance ofthe prepaid card.

Further, for example, concerning the image forming apparatus disposed inan office, a university or the like, a method for collecting use chargeson a user card (user identification card) is adopted to the imageforming apparatus. The user card is a magnetic card storingidentification information (a name, belonging division or the like) onthe user, and the user takes the user card with him. Therefore, when theuser uses the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus makesa reading apparatus attached thereto read contents stored in the usercard, certifies the user and collects use charges in on lump later.

As described above, the methods for collecting use charges onabove-described two types of cards can get rid of the trouble. However,because the user is required to take an exclusive card to use the imageforming apparatus, the user has trouble with the card.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is accomplished in order to solve theabove-described problems.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an image formingapparatus and an image forming system capable of obtaining data ofinformation desired by a user and providing the data for the user in anoutput state desired by the user.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image formingapparatus and an image forming system capable of providing a publicationso as to meet the demand of the user.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an image formingapparatus and an image forming system which provides services forgeneral users, capable of getting rid of trouble to collect use charges.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, an imageforming apparatus comprises: a storing section for storing data in astorage medium; an image forming section for forming and printing animage based on data; a connector to which a portable communicationterminal is connected; a communication control section for controllingthe portable communication terminal connected to the connector, andcommunicating with a server for managing data of various information ona network; an obtaining section for obtaining desired first data andsecond data from the server; and a first selecting section for selectingan output state of the first data and the second data obtained by theobtaining section; and wherein the apparatus provides the first data andthe second data in the output state selected by the first selectingsection.

Preferably, the first data include music data, and the second datainclude related information data comprising at least one of text dataand image data, concerning the music data.

According to the apparatus of the first aspect of the present inventionor the above-described apparatus, because the image forming apparatusobtains the first data including music data and the second dataincluding related information data from the server through the portablecommunication terminal, and selects the output state of the data, it ispossible to provide desired data in the desired output state.

Preferably, in the apparatus of the first aspect of the presentinvention, the first selecting section selects a first output state forstoring the first data and the second data in the storage medium, andthe storing section stores the first data and the second data in thestorage medium.

According to the apparatus, when the first output state is selected, thefirst data and the second data are stored in the storage medium.Consequently, it is possible provide the data as electronic data.

Preferably, in the apparatus of the first aspect of the presentinvention, the first selecting section selects a second output state forstoring the first data in the storage medium and printing the seconddata in a predetermined print condition predetermined by the apparatus,the storing section stores the first data in the storage medium, and theimage forming section prints the second data in the predetermined printcondition predetermined by the apparatus.

According to the apparatus, when the second output state is selected,the first data are stored in the storage medium, and the second data areprinted and outputted in the predetermined print conditionautomatically. Consequently, it is possible to provide desired firstdata as electronic data and desired second data as high-quality printedmatter rapidly.

Preferably, in the apparatus of the first aspect of the presentinvention, the first selecting section selects a third output state forstoring the first data in the storage medium and printing the seconddata in a desired print condition, the storing section stores the firstdata in the storage medium, and the image forming section prints thesecond data in the desired print condition.

According to the apparatus, when the third output state is selected, thefirst data are stored in the storage medium, and the second data areprinted and outputted in the desired print condition automatically.Consequently, it is possible to provide desired first data as electronicdata and desired second data as high-quality printed matter printed inthe desired print condition, for example, a print condition desired by auser.

Preferably, the above-described apparatus, further comprises apost-processing section for performing post-processing to printed matterobtained by forming and printing the image based on the second data bythe image forming section.

According to the apparatus, because the post-processing is performed tothe printed matter based on the second data, it is possible to performbiding processing (post-processing) on user's demand and providefine-finished printed matter.

Preferably, the above-described image forming section comprises a firstimage forming section and a second image forming section for formingimages in different ways, and the above-described apparatus furthercomprises a second selecting section for selecting any one of the firstimage forming section and the second image forming section as the imageforming section for forming and printing the image based on the seconddata.

Preferably, the first image forming section forms the image according toat least an inkjet system, and the second image forming section formsthe image according to at least an electro-photographic system.

According to the apparatus, because the printed matter is provided byany one or a combination of the first image forming section in theinkjet system and the second image forming section in theelectro-photographic system, it is possible to form high-quality images,and provide the most suitable print environment.

Preferably, the apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention,further comprises a third selecting section for selecting any onestorage medium from an optical storage medium, a magnetic storagemedium, an optical magnetic storage and a semiconductor storage mediumas the storage medium in which at least one of the first data and thesecond data are stored by the storing section.

According to the apparatus, because the storage medium in which thefirst data or the second data are stored is selected, it is possible tostore the data in a desired storage medium, and meet the demand of theuser or the like more.

Preferably, the apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention,further comprises a calculating section for calculating a charge forprovision of the first data and the second data, wherein thecommunication control section informs the server of the chargecalculated by the calculating section by controlling the portablecommunication terminal.

According to the apparatus, because the charge is calculated andinformed the server, the server can manage the charges collectively. Asa result, it is possible to collect the charge easily.

Preferably, in the apparatus of the first aspect of the presentinvention, the storing section attaches electronic watermark data to atleast one of the first data and the second data to be stored in thestorage medium, when storing the at least one of the first data and thesecond data in the storage medium.

According to the apparatus, because the electronic watermark data areattached to the data when the data are stored in the storage medium, itis possible to control the copy of the data and protect the copyrightafter the data are provided for the user.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, an imageforming apparatus comprises: a storing section for storing data in astorage medium; an image forming section for forming and printing animage based on data; a connector to which a portable communicationterminal is connected; a communication control section for controllingthe portable communication terminal connected to the connector, andcommunicating with a server for managing data of various information ona network; and an obtaining section for obtaining desired first data andsecond data from the server; wherein the storing section stores thefirst data obtained by the obtaining section in the storage medium, andthe image forming section prints the second data obtained by theobtaining section in a predetermined print condition predetermined bythe apparatus.

According to the apparatus of the second aspect of the presentinvention, because the first data are stored in the storage medium, andthe second data are printed and outputted in the predetermined printcondition automatically, it is possible to provide desired first data aselectronic data and desired second data as high-quality printed matterfor the user or the like rapidly.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, an imageforming apparatus comprises: a storing section for storing data in astorage medium; an image forming section for forming and printing animage based on data; a connector to which a portable communicationterminal is connected; a communication control section for controllingthe portable communication terminal connected to the connector, andcommunicating with a server for managing data of various information ona network; and an obtaining section for obtaining desired first data andsecond data from the server; wherein the storing section stores thefirst data obtained by the obtaining section in the storage medium, andthe image forming section prints the second data obtained by theobtaining section in a desired print condition.

According to the apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention,because the first data are stored in the storage medium, and the seconddata are printed and outputted in the desired print conditionautomatically, it is possible to provide desired first data aselectronic data and desired second data as high-quality printed matterprinted in the print condition desired by the user or the like.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, in an imageforming system comprising a server for managing data of variousinformation on a network, and an image forming apparatus forcommunicating with the server through a portable communication terminal,the server comprises: a storage for storing data of various informationtherein; a search section for desired first data and second datarequested by the image forming apparatus through the portablecommunication terminal from the data of various information stored inthe storage; and a sending section for sending the first data and thesecond data searched by the search section to the image formingapparatus through the portable communication terminal, and the imageforming apparatus comprises: a storing section for storing data in astorage medium; an image forming section for forming and printing animage based on data; a connector to which the portable communicationterminal is connected; a communication control section for controllingthe portable communication terminal connected to the connector, andcommunicating with the server; an obtaining section for obtaining thefirst data and the second data sent from the server; and a firstselecting section for selecting an output state of the first data andthe second data obtained by the obtaining section, wherein the apparatusprovides the first data and the second data in the output state selectedby the first selecting section.

Preferably, the storage of the server stores at least music data andrelated information data including at least one of text data and imagedata concerning the music data, the first data include the music data,and the second data include the related information data concerning themusic data.

Preferably, in the above-described system, the first selecting sectionselects a first output state for storing the first data and the seconddata in the storage medium, and the storing section stores the firstdata and the second data in the storage medium.

Preferably, in the above-described system, the first selecting sectionselects a second output state for storing the first data in the storagemedium and printing the second data in a predetermined print conditionpredetermined by the apparatus, the storing section stores the firstdata in the storage medium, and the image forming section prints thesecond data in the predetermined print condition predetermined by theimage forming apparatus.

Preferably, in the above-described system, the first selecting sectionselects a third output state for storing the first data in the storagemedium and printing the second data in a desired print condition, thestoring section stores the first data in the storage medium, and theimage forming section prints the second data in the desired printcondition.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, and imageforming apparatus for communicating with a server for storing aplurality of provided article data and accounts related to the pluralityof provide article data respectively, through a portable communicationterminal, comprises: a connector to which the portable communicationterminal is connected; a communication section for controlling theportable communication terminal connected to the connector, andcommunicating with the server; an input section for inputting anaccount; a sending request section for requesting the server to sendprovided article data based on the account inputted by the input sectionthrough the communication section; a receiving section for receiving theprovide article data requested by the sending request section and sentfrom the server through the communication section; and an image formingsection for forming an image based on the provided article data receivedby the receiving section.

The image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect of the presentinvention, can obtain provided article data corresponding to theinputted account from the server, and form the image based on theprovided article data. Consequently, when provided article datacorresponding to an article desired by the user and the account arerelated to each other, and the user previously obtains the correspondingaccount, the user can obtain printed matter of the desired articleeasily by inputting the obtained account to the image forming apparatus.

Preferably, in the apparatus of the fifth aspect of the presentinvention, the image forming section comprises a plurality of imageforming sections for forming images in different ways, and the apparatusfurther comprises a selecting section for selecting an image formingsection for forming the image based on the provided article data fromthe plurality of image forming sections according to a rate offull-color photograph data included in the provided article datareceived by the receiving section.

Preferably, the selecting section selects an image forming section forforming the image according to an inkjet system from the plurality ofimage forming sections when full-color photograph data are included inthe provided article data, and an image forming section for forming theimage according to an electro-photographic system from the plurality ofimage forming sections when full-color photograph data are not includedin the provided article data.

The image forming apparatus can select the different image formingsystem according to the rate of full-color photograph data included inthe provided article data, and form the image in the selected imageforming system. Consequently, because the apparatus comprises, forexample, the inkjet system capable of a printing high-quality photographand the electro-photographic system capable of printing the image athigh speed as the image forming system, the apparatus can form the imagein the inkjet system in a first case the full-color photograph data areincluded in the provided article data and form the image in theelectro-photographic system in a second case other than the first case.Consequently, it is possible to provide the printed matter having thefull-color photograph quality of high quality and the character qualityof high speed and high quality, for the user.

Preferably, in the apparatus of the fifth aspect of the presentinvention, the account includes at least one of authenticationinformation and identification information of the portable communicationterminal.

Preferably, in the apparatus of the fifth aspect of the presentinvention, the image forming section forms an electronic watermark imagewhen forming the image based on the provided article data.

The image forming apparatus can form the electronic watermark image whenforming the image based on the provided article data. Consequently, forexample, the apparatus can control the copy of the printed mattergenerated by forming the image based on the provided article data, andprotect the copyright.

Preferably, the apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present invention,further comprises a post-processing section for performingpost-processing to printed matter of the image formed by the imageforming section.

Preferably, the post-processing section performs at least one of punchprocessing for punching a binding hole at a predetermined position ofthe printed matter, stapling processing for stapling the printed matter,trimmer processing for trimming the printed matter in predeterminedsize, pamphlet preparing processing for preparing a pamphlet, and bidingprocessing for biding the printed matter simply, as the post-processing.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, in an imageforming system comprising a server and an image forming apparatus forcommunicating with the server through a portable communication terminal,the server comprises: a first storage for storing a plurality ofprovided article data and accounts related to the plurality of providearticle data respectively therein; and a sending section for sendingprovided article data corresponding to an account included in sendingrequest information sent from the image forming apparatus through theportable communication terminal to the image forming apparatus, in replyto the sending request information, and the image forming apparatuscomprises: a connector to which the portable communication terminal isconnected; a communication section for controlling the portablecommunication terminal connected to the connector, and communicatingwith the server; an input section for inputting the account; a sendingrequest section for sending the sending request information includingthe account inputted by the input section to the server through thecommunication section; a receiving section for receiving the providearticle data sent from the server through the communication section; andan image forming section for forming an image based on the providedarticle data received by the receiving section.

According to the system of the sixth aspect of the present invention,the server can store a plurality of provided article data and accountsrelated to each other, and send provided article data corresponding tothe request of the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, the imageforming apparatus can obtain provided article data corresponding to theinputted account from the server, and form the image based on theprovided article data. Consequently, for example, when the providedarticle data corresponding to the article desired by the user and theaccount are related to each other and the user previously obtains thecorresponding account, the user can obtain the printed matter of thedesired article easily by inputting the obtained account to the imageforming apparatus.

Preferably, in the system of the sixth aspect of the present invention,the image forming section of the image forming apparatus comprises aplurality of image forming sections for forming images in differentways, and the apparatus further comprises a selecting section forselecting an image forming section for forming the image based on theprovided article data from the plurality of image forming sectionsaccording to a rate of full-color photograph data included in theprovided article data received by the receiving section.

According to the system, the image forming apparatus can select thedifferent image forming system according to the rate of full-colorphotograph data included in the provided article data, and form theimage in the selected image forming system. Consequently, because theapparatus comprises, for example, an inkjet system capable of printinghigh-quality photographs and an electro-photographic system capable ofprinting images at high speed, as the image forming system, theapparatus can form the image in the inkjet system in a first case thefull-color photograph data are included in the provided article data,and form the image in the electro-photographic system in a second caseother than the first case. Consequently, it is possible to provideprinted matter having the full-color photograph quality as high qualityand the character quality as high speed and high quality for the user.

Preferably, in the system of the sixth aspect of the present invention,the server further comprises: a second storage section for classifyingand storing a plurality of stored article data in a predeterminedclassified condition therein; a determination section for determining anextract condition for every account stored in the first storage section;and a storage control section for extracting stored article datasatisfying the extract condition determined by the determinationsection, from the plurality of stored article data stored in the secondstorage section.

According to the system, when the user specifies the desired article,the server can extract the stored article data corresponding to thedesired article for every user and store the provided article data andthe account related to each other. Consequently, when the stored articledata stored in the first storage are electronic data of articles(publications) which a plurality of publishing companies allows theserver to use, the server can provide an original publication on user'sdemand, without the restriction of the publishing companies.

Preferably, in the above-described system, the first storage section ofthe server stores an electronic mail address related to each of theaccounts therein, and the server further comprises a sending section forreading the electronic mail address corresponding to the account out ofthe first storage section when the storage control section completesextracting and storing the stored article data based on the account, andsending a predetermined electronic mail to the electronic mail addressread.

According to the system, when completing extracting the correspondingstored article data, the server can send the electronic mail, forexample, showing the completion of the extract to the electronic mailaddress corresponding to the account, for every account. Consequently,for example, when the server relates the electronic mail address of theuser to the account for every account, the server can inform the user ofthat the printed matter of the desired article can be provided, bysending the electronic mail. Herein, the server may be a mail server forsending the electronic mail and use the corresponding account as theuser ID of the mail server. Further, the server may inform the user byusing the electronic mail having the account information as one part ofthe electronic mail address.

Preferably, in the system of the sixth aspect of the present invention,the account includes at least one of authentication information andidentification information of the portable communication terminal.

Preferably, in the system of the sixth aspect of the present invention,the image forming section of the image forming apparatus forms anelectronic watermark image when forming the image based on the providedarticle data.

Preferably, in the system of the sixth aspect of the present invention,the image forming apparatus further comprises a post-processing sectionfor performing post-processing to printed matter of the image formed bythe image forming section.

Preferably, the post-processing section performs at least one of punchprocessing for punching a binding hole at a predetermined position ofthe printed matter, stapling processing for stapling the printed matter,trimmer processing for trimming the printed matter in predeterminedsize, pamphlet preparing processing for preparing a pamphlet, and bidingprocessing for biding the printed matter simply, as the post-processing.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, an imageforming apparatus for communicating with a management apparatus forstoring a plurality of electronic prepaid information and authenticationinformation related to the plurality of electronic prepaid informationrespectively, and replaying to inquiry request for electronic prepaidinformation based on authentication information through a portablecommunication terminal storing authentication information, comprises: aconnector to which the portable communication terminal is connected; acommunication section for controlling the portable communicationterminal connected to the connector, and controlling communication withthe portable communication terminal and the management apparatus; areading section for reading authentication information out of theportable communication terminal; an inquiry request section for sendingthe authentication information read by the reading section to themanagement apparatus through the communication section, and requestingthe management apparatus to inquire the electronic prepaid informationbased on the authentication information; a receiving section forreceiving the electronic prepaid information replied by the managementapparatus requested to inquire by the inquiry request section throughthe communication section; and an image forming control section forcontrolling whether to perform image forming processing or not on thebasis of the electronic prepaid information received by the receivingsection.

The image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect of the presentinvention, can control the image forming processing or not, that is,whether the image forming processing is performable or not, on the basisof the electronic prepaid information corresponding to theauthentication information stored in the portable communication terminalconnected thereto. That is, the image forming apparatus can perform theimage forming processing by using the electronic prepaid information.

That is, the user obtains the authentication information and stores itin the portable communication terminal, for example, by previouslypaying predetermined charges. Therefore, when the user connects theportable communication terminal to the image forming apparatus to usethe image forming apparatus, the user can make the image formingapparatus perform the image forming processing, that is, the user canuse the image forming apparatus, according to the paid charges.Consequently, it is unnecessary that the user inserts coins into theimage forming apparatus or takes a private card with him or her evenwhen using the image forming apparatus, as usual. As a result, it ispossible to get rid of trouble with use of the image forming apparatus.

Preferably, in the apparatus of the seventh aspect of the presentinvention, the electronic prepaid information include at least balanceinformation, and the image forming control section determines aperformable number of the image forming processing on the basis of thebalance information and controls the image forming processing.

The image forming apparatus can perform the image forming processingaccording to the number based on the balance information included in theelectronic prepaid information. That is, it is possible to control theperformance of the image forming processing so that the performancenumber of the image forming processing does not exceed the performablenumber according to the balance included in the electronic prepaidinformation.

Preferably, the above-described apparatus further comprises: anoperation input section for inputting desired performance number of theimage forming processing; and an accounting section for accounting in apredetermined system according to an excess number of the desiredperformance number over the performable number, when the desiredperformance number inputted by the operation input section exceeds theperformable number determined based on the balance information by theimage forming control section.

The image forming apparatus can account an excess charge for the excessnumber when the inputted desired performance number exceeds theperformable number. Consequently, in case the user has to make the imageforming apparatus perform the image forming processing although thedesired performance number exceeds the performable number, the user canuse the image forming apparatus according to the desired number withoutthe restriction of the performable number.

Preferably, the above-described apparatus, further comprises a displayfor displaying at least one of an instruction to pay a shortfallaccounted in the predetermined system according to the excess number bythe accounting section, and an instruction to input the desiredperformance number of the image forming processing by the operationinput section so as to prevent the shortfall from occurring, when thedesired performance number inputted by the operation input sectionexceeds the performable number determined based on the balanceinformation by the image forming control section.

Preferably, the apparatus of the seventh aspect of the presentinvention, further comprises a use information sending section forsending use information according to the image forming processingcontrolled by the image forming control section, to the portablecommunication terminal.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the present invention, in animage forming system comprising an image forming apparatus, a managementapparatus and a portable communication terminal, the portablecommunication terminal comprises: an authentication information storagefor storing authentication information therein; an authenticationinformation sending section for sending the authentication informationstored in the authentication information storage to the image formingapparatus; a first transfer section for transferring electronic prepaidinformation sent from the management apparatus to the image formingapparatus; and a second transfer section for transferring useinformation sent from the image forming apparatus to the managementapparatus, the management apparatus comprises: an electronic prepaidinformation storage for storing a plurality of electronic prepaidinformation and authentication related to the plurality of electronicprepaid information respectively therein; an electronic prepaidinformation sending section for sending electronic prepaid informationcorresponding to authentication information sent from the portablecommunication terminal to the portable communication terminal, inresponse to inquiry request for the electronic prepaid information basedon the authentication information; and a renewing section for renewingthe electronic prepaid information stored in the electronic prepaidinformation storage according to the user information transferred fromthe portable communication terminal, and the image forming apparatuscomprises: a connector to which the portable communication terminal isconnected; an image forming control section for controlling whether toperform image forming processing or no on the electronic prepaidinformation transferred from the portable communication terminal; and ause information sending section for sending use information based on theimage forming processing to the portable communication terminal.

According to the system of the eight aspect of the present invention,the image forming apparatus can control the image forming processing,that is, whether to perform the image forming processing, on the basisof the electronic prepaid information corresponding to theauthentication stored in the portable communication terminal connectedthereto. That is, the image forming apparatus can use the electronicprepaid information and perform the image forming processing.

That is, the user obtains the authentication information and stores itin the portable communication terminal, for example, by previouslypaying predetermined charges. Therefore, when the user connects theportable communication terminal to the image forming apparatus to usethe image forming apparatus, the user can make the image formingapparatus perform the image forming processing, that is, the user canuse the image forming apparatus, according to the paid charges.Consequently, it is unnecessary that the user inserts coins into theimage forming apparatus or takes a private card with him or her evenwhen using the image forming apparatus, as usual. As a result, it ispossible to get rid of trouble with use of the image forming apparatus.

Preferably, in the system of the eighth aspect of the present invention,the electronic prepaid information includes at least balanceinformation, and the image forming control section determinesperformable number of the image forming processing on the basis of thebalance information, and controls the image forming processing.

Preferably, in the above-described system, the image forming sectionfurther comprising: an operation input section for inputting desiredperformance number of the image forming processing; and an accountingsection for accounting in a predetermined system according to an excessnumber of the desired performance number over the performable number,when the desired performance number inputted by the operation inputsection exceeds the performable number determined based on the balanceinformation by the image forming control section.

Preferably, in the system of the eighth aspect of the present invention,the renewing section of the management apparatus renews the electronicprepaid information stored in the electronic prepaid information storageaccording to the use information transferred from the portablecommunication terminal, and renews the authentication informationrelated to the electronic prepaid information renewed, the managementapparatus further comprises an authentication information sendingsection for sending the authentication information renewed by therenewing section to the portable communication terminal, and theportable communication terminal further comprises an authenticationinformation renewing section for renewing the authentication informationstored in ten authentication information storage on the basis of theauthentication information sent from the management apparatus.

Preferably, in the above-described system, the portable communicationterminal further comprises a purchase desired number sending section forsending a purchase desired number of the image forming processingperformed by the image forming apparatus, to the image formingapparatus, and the renewing section of the management apparatus renewsthe electronic prepaid information stored in the electronic prepaidinformation storage according to the purchase desired number sent fromthe portable communication terminal, and renews the authenticationinformation related to the electronic prepaid information renewed.

In accordance with a ninth aspect of the present invention, an imageforming apparatus for communicating with a management apparatus forstoring a plurality of electronic prepaid information and authenticationinformation related to the plurality of electronic prepaid informationrespectively and replying inquiry request for electronic prepaidinformation based on authentication information, through a communicationline, comprises: an operation section for inputting authenticationinformation; a communication section for communicating with themanagement apparatus through the communication line connected to theimage forming apparatus, when the authentication information is inputtedby the operation section; an inquiry request section for sending theauthentication information inputted by the operation section to themanagement apparatus through the communication section, and making theinquiry request for the electronic prepaid information based on theauthentication information; a receiving section for receiving theelectronic prepaid information replied by the management apparatus inresponse to the inquiry request made by the inquiry request sectionthrough the communication section; and an image forming control sectionfor controlling whether to perform image forming processing on the basisof the electronic prepaid information received by the receiving section.

Preferably, the electronic prepaid information includes at least balanceinformation, and the above-described apparatus further comprises adisplay for displaying a performable number of the image formingprocessing on the basis of balance information.

Preferably, the electronic prepaid information includes at least balanceinformation, and the image forming control section determines aperformable number of the image forming processing on the basis ofbalance information, and controls the image forming processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawinggiven by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as adefinition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view showing a whole structure of an informationproviding service system 100 according to a first embodiment to whichthe present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is an external appearance view of an image forming apparatus 110of the information providing service system 100 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of the imageforming apparatus 110 shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow charts for explaining information providingprocessing performed by the image forming apparatus 110 and a server 150of an information service center;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are transition views of menu screens displayed on theimage forming apparatus 110 according to the image providing processing;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing a whole structure of a publishingservice system 200 according to a second embodiment to which the presentinvention is applied;

FIG. 7 is an external appearance view of an image forming apparatus 210of the publishing service system 200 shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a main partof the image forming apparatus 210 shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a main partof a server 250 of the publishing service system 200 shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of a data structure of aregistered user table 2522 of the server 250;

FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of a data structure of a receivingdesired article included in the registered user table 2522 shown in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a table showing an example of a data structure of a providedarticle table 2523 of the server 250;

FIG. 13 is a table showing an example of a data structure of an imageforming apparatus table 2524 of the server 250;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are flowcharts showing printed matter providingprocessing performed by the image forming apparatus 210 and the server250;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing provided article data generatingprocessing performed by the server 250;

FIG. 16 is a conceptual view showing a whole structure of a servicesystem 300 according to a third embodiment to which the presentinvention is applied;

FIG. 17 is an external appearance view of an image forming apparatus 310of the service system 300 shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a main partof the image forming apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a main partof a portable telephone 330 of the service system 300 shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a table showing an example of a data structure of anelectronic prepaid ticket 3371 of the portable telephone 330;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of a main partof a management apparatus 350 of the service system 300 shown in FIG.16;

FIG. 22 is a table showing an example of a data structure of anelectronic prepaid ticket management table 3551 of the managementapparatus 350;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are flowcharts showing image forming apparatus useprocessing performed by the image forming apparatus 310, the portabletelephone 330 and the management apparatus 350;

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing electronic prepaid ticket purchaseprocessing performed by the portable telephone 330 and the managementapparatus 350; and

FIGS. 25A and 25B are flowchart showing the image forming apparatus useprocessing performed by the image forming apparatus 310 and themanagement apparatus 350 according to another embodiment example of thethird embodiment.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will beexplained in detail, with reference to figures.

According to the first embodiment, a CPU 1110 has functions as theobtaining section and the calculating section, an operation section 114has a function as the storing section, an inkjet-type image formingsection 117 has a function as the first image forming section, anelectrophotography-type image forming section 118 has a function as thesecond image forming section, a communication control section 1120 has afunction as the communication control section, and a connection section1120 a has a function as the connector, as claimed in claims of thepresent invention.

First, the structure will be explained as follows.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view showing a whole structure of an informationproviding service system 200 according to the first embodiment.

In the information providing service system 200 shown in FIG. 1, animage forming apparatus 110 is connected to a portable telephone 130which a user takes with him or her, and is connected to a server 150 ofan information service center through a public network so as to exchangedata with the server 150 in wireless-communication through the portabletelephone 130. The server 150 is connected to servers 160 disposed atrecord companies A, B and C and servers 170 disposed ad publishingcompanies A, B and C through Internet.

The image forming apparatus 110 is connected to the portable telephone130, and is connected to the server 150 of the information servicecenter in wireless-communication through the portable telephone 130. Theimage forming apparatus 110 obtains various types of data such as musicdata desired by the user, data (including image data, text data and soon) of related information on the music data or the like from the server150, stores the data in a storage medium or prints and outputs the data,and provides the storage medium or printing matter for the user.

The portable telephone 130 is a portable communication terminal whichthe user takes with him or her, and communicates with an externalapparatus on the public network through a base station of a telephonecompany 140 for providing communication services.

The server 150 of the information service center closes license contractwith the record companies A, B and C and the publishing companies A, Band C for various types of information such as music data, relatedinformation on the music, electronic publication data or the likebelonging to the companies. Therefore, the server 150 previously obtainsvarious types of information which the server 150 is permitted to use,from the above-described companies, and stores secondary informationedited based on the obtained information. Further, the server 150 canaccess a site set on the Internet by each of the servers 160 of therecord companies A, B and C or each of the servers 170 of the publishingcompanies A, B and C, and obtain various types of information disclosedon the site. When the server 150 receives a request for various types ofinformation from the image forming apparatus 110, the server 150searches data of specified information and sends the data to the imageforming apparatus 110 through the public network.

Herein, a charge system for the information providing service system 100shown in FIG. 1 will be explained simply. According to the charge systemfor the information providing service system 100, the server 150 chargesthe telephone company 140 of the portable telephone 130 which the usertakes with him or her use charges for information providing service useincluding information charges for various types of information providedfrom the record company, the publishing company or the like, andprinting charges for image formation or post processing of print dataperformed by the image forming apparatus 110. Then, the telephonecompany 140 charges the user the use charges besides call charges of theportable telephone 130, and requests the user to pay the charges.

Next, the image forming apparatus 110 according to the present inventionwill be explained in detailed.

FIG. 2 is an external appearance view of the image forming apparatus110. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 110 comprises adisplay section 113, a scanner 115 for reading image data, a connectionsection 1120 a for the portable telephone 130 and an inkjet type ofimage forming section 117 at an upper portion of the apparatus, areading section 116 for reading out or writing data in various types ofstorage media such as a MD, a memory card or the like at a front portionof the apparatus, and an electrophotography type of image formingsection 118 and a post-processing section 119 for performing postprocessing for printed matter at an internal portion of the apparatus.

Then, the functional structure of the image forming apparatus 110 shownin FIG. 2 will be explained with reference to the block diagram shown inFIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 110 comprises amain controller 111, the display section 113, an operation section 114,the scanner 115, the reading section 116, the inkjet type image formingsection 117, the electrophotography type image forming section 118, thepost-processing section 119 and the connection section 1120 a.

The main controller 111 comprises a CPU 1110, a ROM 1111, a RAM 1112, adisplay control section 1113, an operation control section 1114, areader control section 1115, an image processing section 1116, an imageforming control section 1117, a storage 1118, a post-processing controlsection 1119 and a communication control section 1120 which areconnected to each other through a system bus 1121.

The display section 113 is connected to the display control section1113, the operation section 114 is connected to the operation controlsection 1114, the scanner 115 and the reading section 116 are connectedto the reader control section 1115, the inkjet type image formingsection 117 and the electrophotography type image forming section 118are connected to the image forming control section 1117, thepost-processing section 119 is connected to the post-processing controlsection 1119, and the connection section 1120 a is connected to thecommunication control section 1120.

The CPU 1110 controls each section of the image forming apparatus 110 onthe basis of various types of control programs stored in the ROM 1111 ina concentrated way. More specifically, the CPU 1110 reads out programsstored in the ROM 1111 and develops the programs in the RAM 1112according to signals inputted through the communication control section1120 or the operation section 114. Then, the CPU 1110 performs varioustypes of processing based on the programs to make each section of theimage forming apparatus 110 function. At the time, the CPU 1110 storesresults of various types of processing in the RAM 1112, and displays theresults on the display section 113 as necessary.

More specifically, the CPU 1110 reads an information providingprocessing program out of the ROM 1111, and performs the followinginformation providing processing according to the program.

According to the information providing processing, when the userconnects the portable telephone 130 to the image forming apparatus 110and the CPU 1110 receives an operation instruction to apply for theinformation providing service, the CPU 1110 makes the communicationcontrol section 1120 control and communicate with the portable telephone130, and applies the server 150 of the information service center forthe information providing service. Then, when the CPU 1110 receives menuinformation from the server 150, the CPU 1110 makes the display section113 display the menu information thereon, makes the user select andinstruct on a desired service menu through the operation section 114,and makes the user select and instruct on desired music data and relatedinformation.

Then, when the CPU 1110 requests the server 150 to send the music dataand the data of related information selected and instructed by the userand obtains them, the CPU 1110 makes the user select a menu for anoutput state of the obtained data. When the user selects a “data save”menu, the CPU 1110 makes the reading section store the music data andthe related information data in a storage medium. When the user selectsan “automatic editing print” menu, the CPU 1110 makes the readingsection 116 store the music data in the storage medium, and makes theimage forming section 117 or 118 print and perform post-processing forthe related information data in a print condition and a post-processingcondition which is previously determined by the image forming apparatus110. When the user selects an “optional editing print” menu, the CPU 110makes the reading section 116 store the music data in the storagemedium, and makes the image forming section 117 or 118 print and performpost-processing for the related information data in a print conditionand a post-processing condition including a printing layout which isdetermined according to the operation instruction of the user. Whenproviding the music data and the related information data for the userin the output state selected by the user, the CPU 1110 calculatesservice charges, displays a message for making the service chargesbesides call charges of the portable telephone 130 on the displaysection 113, and makes the communication control section 1120 inform theserver 150 of the service charges and a telephone number of the portabletelephone 130.

The ROM 1111 is a read-only semiconductor memory, and stores varioustypes of control programs performed by the CPU 1110. For example, theROM 1111 stores a system program for controlling the whole system, aninitialization program, a program for performing the followinginformation providing processing or the like, therein. The ROM 1111 maybe a storage medium from which data can be erased and in which data canbe written, such as a flash memory or the like. For example, the ROM1111 may have a structure capable of storing a program or data inputtedthrough the communication control section 1120 from an external, and theCPU 1110 may have a structure capable of performing various types ofprocessing according to the stored program.

The RAM 1112 is a storage medium for storing data temporarily. The RAM1112 has various types of areas such as an area for developing programsperformed by the CPU 1110, an area for temporarily storing data inputtedthrough the reading section 116, the communication control section 1120,the operation section 114 or the like or results of various processingperformed by the CPU 1110, an area for temporarily storing image datainputted through the scanner 115, the reading section 116, thecommunication control section 1120 or the like.

The display control section 1113 displays display data on the displaysection 113 according to the instruction outputted from the CPU 1110.For example, the display control section 1113 displays display data ofvarious types of menu screens, a jam information screen for indicating apaper-stuffed position, an error screen or the like on the displaysection 113.

The display section 113 comprises a display screen such as a CRT(Cathode Ray Tube), a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, anddisplays the display data thereon under the control of the displaycontrol section 1113.

The operation section 114 comprises numeric keys or function related tovarious types of functions, and outputs an operation signalcorresponding to the operated key to the operation control section 1114.

The operation control section 1114 outputs the operation signaloutputted from the operation section 114 to the CPU 1110.

The scanner 115 comprises a light source and a CCD under a transparentcontact glass, and read image data of a document placed on the contactglass. In detail, the scanner 115 scans the document with light emittedfrom the light source, receives reflection by the CCD, converts thereflection photo-electrically and generates image signals.

The reading section 116 comprises a plurality of slots in which varioustypes of storage media can be installed, the various types of storagemedia such as a semiconductor storage medium formed in a card-shape, astick-shape or the like, an optical or magnetic storage medium such as aCD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable), a CD-RW (CD-ReWritable), a MD, a DVDRAM(Digital Versatile Disc RAM), a floppy (registered trademark) or thelike, or an optical magnetic storage medium such as a MO (Magnet OpticalDisc) or the like. The reading section 116 reads out various types ofdata such as image data, text data or the like stored in various typesof storage media installed in the slots. The reading section 116 writesand stores various data instructed to be stored in the specified storagemedium according to the instruction of the reader control section 1115.

The reader control section 1115 reads image data read by the scanner115, controls the reading section 116 to read data out of the storagemedium and write and store data in the storage medium, and outputs theread data to the RAM 1112.

The image processing section 1116 performs various types of imageprocessing for image data stored in the RAM 1112, according to theinstruction of the CPU 1110. For example, the image processing section1116 performs image processing for enlarging and reducing, rotating,changing positions, adjusting contrast, enhancing brightness, changingbrightness or luminance of colors or the like for images, according tothe operation instruction of the operation section 114.

The image forming control section 1117 controls the inkjet-type imageforming section 117 and the electrophotography-type image formingsection 118 according to the instruction of the CPU 1110, and performsprinting processing of image data. The image forming control section1117 comprises a tray for containing various types of printing papersand a carrier system for carrying the printing papers. The image formingcontrol section 1117 selects any one of the image forming sections 117and 118 according to the instruction of the CPU 1110, and carries andsupplies the printing paper of the type and the size instructed by theCPU 1110 to the selected image forming section.

The inkjet-type image forming section 117 comprises ink cartridges forcolors such as cyan, magenta, yellow, block or the like. The imageforming section 117 supplies ink to the printing paper supplied by theimage forming control section 1117, performs image recording accordingto image data, and outputs the printed printing paper to a paper ejectsection 117 a. The method for supplying ink may be a piezo system, or athermal inkjet system.

The electrophotography-type image forming section 118 comprises anexposure section 118 a, a development section 118 b, a fix section 118 cand a paper eject section 118 d. The exposure section 118 a exposes aphotosensitive drum with a laser beam or a LED (Light Emitting Diode),and forms static electric latent image according to image data. Then,the development section 118 b makes the photosensitive drum adsorb atoner, and transcribes the toner adsorbed by the photosensitive drum tothe printing paper supplied by the image forming control section 1117.Thereafter, the fix section 118 c fixes the toner on the printing paperby heating the photosensitive drum, and ejects the printing paper to thepaper eject section 118 d.

The storage 1118 comprises a HDD (Hard Disc Drive which is not shown infigures), and stores programs or data in the HDD according to theinstruction of the CPU 1110. For example, when the CPU 1110 instructsthe storage 1118 to write programs or data, the storage 1118 determinesspace amount of the HDD, and stores specified information in the spacearea. When the CPU 1110 instructs the storage 1118 to read programs ofdata, the storage 1118 reads specified information out of the HDD, andoutputs the information to the CPU 1110.

The post-processing control section 1119 carries printed matterinstructed to be post-processed by the CPU 1110 to the post-processingsection 119. Then, the post-processing control section 1119 controls thepost-processing 119 to perform the post-processing for the printedmatter.

The post-processing section 119 performs the post-processing to theprinted mater carried according to the instruction of thepost-processing control section 1119, and ejects it to the eject section119 a. For example, the post-processing includes punch processing forpunching a binding hole at a predetermined position of the printedmatter, staple processing for stapling the printed matter, trimmerprocessing for trimming the printed matter in specified size, pamphletpreparing processing for preparing a pamphlet by folding and binding theprinted matter, binding processing for binding the printed matter simplyand so on.

The communication control section 1120 comprises a modem, a terminaladaptor, a general serial interface or the like, and controlscommunication with the portable telephone 130 connected to theconnection section 1120 a. That is, the communication control section1120 controls the communication with the portable telephone 130 so as totransfer data to the portable telephone 130 or receive data from theportable telephone 130, according to the data transfer timing when theportable telephone 130 performs wireless-communication with an externalapparatus on the public network.

The communication control section 1120 controls the communicationaccording to a model of the portable telephone 130. For example, thecommunication control section 1120 changes various types ofcommunication systems such as a synchronous/asynchronous mode, a datatransfer speed, channel control or the like, according to the model ofthe portable telephone 130 connected to the portable telephone 130. Morespecifically, the communication control section 1120 prepares aplurality of communication control method according to various types ofcommunication systems, and determines any one of communication systemsaccording to the model of the portable telephone 130 which the usertakes with him.

The processing according to the present embodiment will be explained asfollows.

The information providing processing performed by the informationproviding service system 110 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained withflowcharts shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and menu screen transition viewsshown in FIGS. 5A to 5D.

The assumption of the explanation is that the user who takes theportable telephone 130 with him or her connects the portable telephone130 to the connection section 1120 a of the image forming apparatus 110,and applies to the image forming apparatus 110 for the informationproviding service by operating the operation section 114. Although it isexplained that the user operates the image forming apparatus 110 byusing the operation section 114 with reference to the display screendisplayed on the display section 113 of the image forming apparatus 110according to the embodiment, it is not limited to the presentembodiment. The user may operate the image forming apparatus 110 byusing a display and an operation section of the portable telephone 130.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the user connects the portabletelephone 130 to the image forming apparatus 110 and instructs on theapplication for the information providing service, the image formingapparatus 110 is connected to the server 150 of the information servicecenter and applies for the information providing service (Step S181).The call charges of the portable telephone 130 are made. When receivingthe application for the information providing service from the imageforming apparatus 110, the server 150 sends menu information on theinformation providing service to the image forming apparatus 110 (StepS182).

When receiving the menu information on the information providing servicefrom the server 150, the image forming apparatus 110 displays the menuinformation on the display section 113 (Step S183), for example, a menuscreen 131 shown in FIG. 5A. Various types of service menus such as“Music” for downloading music data, “Word of Song” for printing asong-word card or the like, are displayed so as to be selectable on themenu screen 131. Herein, for example, the user will obtain music data inorder to prepare a music album of “the New World” conducted by “SeiniOzawa” in the classical music field. Therefore, the user selects theitem of “Music” on the menu screen 131 by using the operation section114.

When the item of “Music” is selected and instructed on the menu screen131 by the user, the image forming apparatus 110 displays a menu screen132 on the display section 113 and makes the user select a desired musicgenre through the operation section 114. When the menu of “Classicalmusic” is selected and instructed, and further “Key Word Search” forsearing the desired music in the classical music field is selected andinstructed on the menu screen 132 by the user, the image formingapparatus 110 displays a menu screen 133 for inputting key words on thedisplay section 113. When the key words are inputted on the menu screen133 by the user, the image forming apparatus 110 sends the inputted keywords to the server 150 and requests the server 150 to search music databased on the key words. When the server 150 searches music data based onthe key words, and sends a result of the search to the image formingapparatus 110, the image forming apparatus 110 displays the searchresult received from the server 150 on a menu screen 134.

The image forming apparatus 110 displays proposed music data obtained asthe search result on the menu screen 134 to make the user select thedesired music data by using the operation section 114. The user mayselect any one of a plurality of music data. The image forming apparatus110 hatches and displays the proposed music data selected by the user soas to be distinguishable from other proposed music data, as shown in themenu screen 135, and inquires related information on the proposed musicdata such as words of song, a sheet of music, a guide, images ofartist's performance, a recent state of the artist or the like, of theproposed music data, of the server 150 (Step S184). When receiving theinquiry about the related information from the image forming apparatus110, the server 150 searches the related information on the specifiedproposed music data, and sends a result of the search to the imageforming apparatus 110 as a result of the inquiry (Step S185).

When receiving the inquiry result from the server 150, the image formingapparatus 110 displays the obtained proposed related information as theinquiry result on a menu screen 136. Further, the image formingapparatus 110 displays various types of selectable menus such as a“Continuing Reading” menu, an “Automatic Editing Print” menu, an“Optional Editing Print”, a “Data Save” menu or the like, on the menuscreen 136. The “Continuing Reading” menu is one for further displayingadditional proposed information for the proposed related informationobtained as the inquiry result or providing audio-visual service of theproposed music data. The “Automatic Editing Print” menu is onerealizable of the second output state for storing selected proposedmusic data in a storage medium, editing printing layout of the selectedproposed related information automatically by the image formingapparatus 110, printing and outputting the selected proposed relatedinformation in the predetermined print condition. The “Optional EditingPrint” menu is one realizable of the third output state for printing andoutputting the selected proposed related information in the printcondition including the printing layout of the selected proposed relatedinformation, determined by the user. The “Data Save” menu is onerealizable of the first output state for storing data of the proposedrelated information with the music data without printing the data of theproposed related information. Then, the image forming apparatus 110makes the user select the desired output state of the music data and therelated information data and the desired proposed related information byusing the operation section (Step S186).

When receiving the instruction to select the proposed relatedinformation and the menu selected by the user, the image formingapparatus 110 requests the server 150 to send the proposed music dataand the proposed related information data selected by the user (StepS187). Then, the image forming apparatus 110 displays the selectionscreen for making the user select the type of the storage medium forstoring the music data and related information data therein on thedisplay section 113, and displays a message that user installs thestorage medium in the reading section 116 (for example, a menu screen137). When the server 150 sends the music data and the relatedinformation data requested by the image forming apparatus 110 to theimage forming apparatus 110 (Step S188), the image forming apparatus 110obtains the music data and the related information data which are thefirst data and the second data desired by the user from the server 150.

When the “continuing reading” menu is selected by the user in Step S186(Step S189; YES), the image forming apparatus 110 returns to the processin Step S186. On the other hand, when the “continuing reading” menu isnot selected, the image forming apparatus 110 performs the process innext Step S190.

When the “data save” menu is selected by the user in Step S186 (StepS190; YES), the image forming apparatus 110 stores the music data andthe related information data obtained from the server 150 in the storagemedium installed in the reading section 116 (Step S191), and providesthe storage medium in which the data are stored for the user to performthe following process in Step S197. When storing the data in the storagemedium, the image forming apparatus 110 attaches electronic watermarkdata to the data to control the copy of the data.

When the “automatic editing print” menu or the “optional editing print”menu is selected by the user in Step S186 (Step S190; NO), the imageforming apparatus 110 stores only the obtained music data in the storagemedium installed in the reading section 116 (Step S192).

When the “automatic editing print” menu is selected by the user in StepS186 (Step S193; YES), the image forming apparatus 110 automaticallyedits the related information data in the printing layout which ispreviously determined by the image forming apparatus 110, and performsthe printing processing and the post-processing to the edited printeddata in the predetermined print condition (for example, monochrome, A4size, stapling or the like). Then, the image forming apparatus 110provides the storage in which the music data are stored and the printedmatter on which the related information data are printed for the user,and performs the following process in Step 197. When storing the musicdata in the storage medium or printing the printed data and performingthe post-processing to the printed matter, the image forming apparatus110 displays the time required to store the data or perform the printand post-processing to the data on the display section 113, that is, thetime to keep the user waiting for the processing to be completed.

When the “optional editing print” menu is selected by the user in StepS186 (Step S193; NO), the image forming apparatus 110 displays theediting screen for the printing layout of the related information on thedisplay section 113, and performs the editing processing for making theuser edit and instruct the printing layout through the operation section114 (Step S194), to generate print data of the related information. Morespecifically, the image forming apparatus 110 displays the selectablesize or type of the printing paper on the editing screen, and furtherdisplays images of photographs, sheets of music or the like, texts ofsentences or the like included in the related information independently.When the desired printing paper is selected by the user, the imageforming apparatus 110 displays a plurality of layout examples accordingto the printing paper as a basic layout on the editing screen, to makethe user select the desired basic layout.

The basic layout is one for dividing the print range into two or threeareas vertically or horizontally. According to the editing processing,the image forming apparatus 110 makes the user instruct to arrange theimage in any area of the divided areas, and arranges the image in thearea and automatically arranges the text in the other divided areas.When there is not any layout desired by the user, the user can generatethe desired layout, or the image forming apparatus 110 can delete orinsert the images or the texts included in the related information, orchange positions, size, color, contrast or the like of the images of thetexts according to the edit instruction of the user. In the case, theuser can specify the practical range of the image or the text to beedited by surrounding the range by a pointing device such as a mouse, atouch panel or the like, to generate the rough layout.

There is a case that the edit of the printing layout is refused. Forexample, in case copyrighted matter with the copyright is included inthe related information, when the image forming apparatus 110 obtainsthe related information from the server 150, information as to prohibitthe secondary edit is described in header information, or the relatedinformation is described in a PDF file format to prohibit to edit therelated information by the author. In the case, the image formingapparatus 110 displays a message for informing the user of the fact theedit of the printing layout is prohibited on the display section 113.

When finishing performing the editing processing of the printing layoutfor the related information as described above, the image formingapparatus 110 displays the selection screen for making the user selectthe more detailed printing and the more detailed post-processingcondition after the print and post-processing, to determine the printcondition and the post-processing condition (Step S195). In order todetermine the print condition and the post-processing condition, theimage forming apparatus 110 first makes the user select the inkjet-typeimage forming system or the electrophotography-type image forming systemto print the printed data. For example, in case of printing photographs,a jacket cover or the like, when forming images according to theinkjet-type, it is possible to obtain the higher-quality photographimage. In case of printing sheets of music, words of song or the like,when forming images according to the electrophotography-type, it ispossible to print them finer and more rapidly. The image forming systemmay be selected by the user manually according to a favorite of theuser, or may be selected by the image forming apparatus 110automatically properly according to the printed data including theimages or the texts recognized by the image forming apparatus 110.

When the image forming system is determined, the image forming apparatus110 makes the user select the more detailed print condition. Forexample, the image forming apparatus 110 makes the user select thedesired print condition such as single/both surfaces print,color/monochrome print or the like. Then, the image forming apparatus110 displays the selection screen for selecting the post-processingcondition when performing the post-processing on the display section113, and displays the simple post-processing such as stapling, punching,folding or the like or the prost-processing such as pamphlet preparing,binding or the like, so as to be selected by the user on the selectionscreen, to make the user select and instruct desired post-processingthrough the operation section 114. When the pamphlet preparing or thebinding is selected by the user, the image forming apparatus 110performs the page layout automatically, and displays a sample of theprinted page so that the user confirm the page layout of each pagesubstantially. As described above, when the print condition and theprocessing condition including the printing layout is selected anddetermined, the image forming apparatus 110 performs the print andpost-processing to the printed data of the related information in thedetermined conditions (Step S196), and provides the storage medium inwhich the music data are stored and the printed matter on which therelated information data are printed for the user.

When finishing storing the music data or storing or performing the printand post-processing to the related information data as described above,the image forming apparatus 110 calculates and displays use charges ofthe information providing service on the display section 113. Then, theimage forming apparatus 110 informs the user of that the use charges ismade with call charges of the portable telephone 130 later and theserver 150 of the use charges (Step S197), and finishes the informationproviding processing. When receiving the information of the service usecharges from the image forming apparatus 110, the server 150 specifiesthe telephone number of the portable telephone 130 of the user andcharges the telephone company 140 the service use charges of the userbased on the specified telephone number (Step S198), and finishes theinformation providing processing. The telephone company 140 charges theuser based on the telephone number specified by the server 150 thecharged service use charges and the call charges of the portabletelephone 130.

As described above, because the server 150 of the information servicecenter stores and manages the secondary data obtained by editing themusic data and the related information on the music data, the imageforming apparatus 110 can access to the server 150 through the portabletelephone 130 which the user takes with him or her. Consequently, theimage forming apparatus 110 can not only obtain the music data desiredby the user from the server 150 and store them in the storage medium,but also obtain the related information data on the music data and storethem in the storage medium, print them or perform the post-processing tothe printed matter, to provide it for the user. As a result, the imageforming apparatus 110 can prepare an original music album on user'sdemand and provide the high-quality printed matter for the user.

The image forming apparatus 110 can select the output state from thefirst output state for storing the music data and the relatedinformation data in the storage medium, the second output state forstoring the music data in the storage medium and putting the relatedinformation data in the predetermined condition by the image formingapparatus 110 and performing the post-processing to the printed matter,and the third output state for storing the music data in the storagemedium and printing the related information data in the conditiondesired by the user and performing the post-processing to the printedmatter. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 110 can provide themusic data and the related information in the output state on user'sdemand for the user. Further, because the image forming apparatus 110can prepare the pamphlet or binding the printed matter simply byperforming the print and post-processing, the image forming apparatus110 can provide the high-quality finished printed matter on user'sdemand.

Further, because the image forming apparatus 110 provides thehigh-quality inkjet-type image forming system and the high-productivityelectrophotography-type image forming system, it is possible to selectthe most suitable image forming system and provide the most suitableprint condition to the use.

Further, because the image forming apparatus 110 informs the server 150of the service use charges and the server 150 manages the charges, it ispossible to provide the simple charge collecting system. Since it isunnecessary that the user prepares cash even when using the service, theconvenience improves. For example, it is possible to provide the chargecollecting system that when the server 150 charges the telephone company140 of the portable telephone 130 of the user the use charges, thetelephone company 140 charges the user the use charges with the callcharges.

The image forming apparatus 110 and the information providing servicesystem 100 have been described in the first embodiment as a preferableexample, and is not limited to it.

For example, it has been explained that the image forming apparatus 110applies the inkjet-type and the electrophotography-type as the first andsecond image forming sections as claimed in claims according to thefirst embodiment. However, the image forming apparatus 110 may apply anytwo different image forming members of a large number of systems such asa dot impact type, a thermal transcription system or the like.

The image forming apparatus 110 may select any one of an account methodfor paying use charges of the information providing service system 100in cash by using an account apparatus such as a coin mech. or the like,and the account method for paying use charges by charging them theportable telephone 130.

In addition, the detailed structure and the detailed operation of theimage forming apparatus 110, or each section included in the informationproviding service system 100 can be modified properly without departingfrom the gist of the present invention.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 110 according to thefirst embodiment, obtains the music data which are the first data andthe related information data which are the second data from the server150 through the portable telephone 130, and selects the output state ofeach data. Consequently, the image forming apparatus 110 can providedata desired by the user in the output state on user's demand.

Further, when the first output state is selected, because the imageforming apparatus 110 stores the first and second data in the storagemedium, it is possible to provide each data as electronic data for theuser.

Further, when the second output state is selected, because the imageforming apparatus 110 stores the first data in the storage medium andprints the second data in the predetermined suitable print conditionautomatically, it is possible to provide the first data desired by theuser as electronic data and the second data as high-quality printedmatter for the user rapidly.

Further, when the third output state is selected, because the imageforming apparatus 110 stores the first data in the storage medium andprints the second data in the print condition determined by the user, itis possible to provide the first data desired by the user as electronicdata and the second data as high-quality printed matter printed in theprint condition desired by the user for the user.

Further, because the image forming apparatus 110 performs thepost-processing to the printed matter as the second data, it is possibleto provide the printed matter with which the user is satisfiedsufficiently.

Further, because the image forming apparatus 110 selects any one of theinkjet-type of the first image forming section and theelectrophotography-type of the second image forming section, it ispossible to form high-quality images according to use, and provide themost suitable print condition.

Further, because the image forming apparatus 110 select the storagemedium for storing the first or second data therein, it is possible tostore data in the storage medium desired by the user, and meet user'sdemand more.

Further, because the image forming apparatus 110 calculates charges andinforms the server of the charges, the server can manage the chargescollectively. As a result, it is possible to collect the charges easily.

Further, because the image forming apparatus 110 attaches the electronicwatermark data to data when storing the data in the storage medium, itis possible to control the copy and reproduction of the data and protectthe copyright after providing the data for the user.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be explainedin detail, with reference to figures.

As follows, although the present invention will be explained in case thepresent invention is applied to a publishing service forprinting/binding and providing a publication on user's demand, it is notlimited to the case.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a publishing service system 200 as aservice system of the publishing service according to the secondembodiment. Herein, the “publishing service” will be explained as aservice for selecting only articles desired by a user from serialarticles appeared in a plurality of magazines published periodically,editing the selected articles to one, and providing one publication forthe user.

As shown in FIG. 6, the publishing service system 200 comprises an imageforming apparatus 210 provided at a shop such as a convenience store orthe like, a portable telephone 230 which the user takes with him or her,and a server 250 provided at a service center.

The image forming apparatus 210 controls the portable telephone 230connected thereto, to connect to the server 250 through the portabletelephone 230. Then, the image forming apparatus 210 obtains electronicdata to which articles desired by the user published in magazines areedited from the server 250, the electronic data which will be called“provided article data”. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 210performs printing/binding processing based on the obtained providedarticle data, to provide the publication for the user.

The portable telephone 230 is a portable communication terminal whichthe user takes with him or her, and is realized by a well-known wirelesstelephone comprising a wireless call function and a wireless datacommunication function, like the portable telephone 130 according to thefirst embodiment. The portable telephone 230 performs data communicationwith the server 250 through a wireless base station 241 belonging to atelephone company 240 with which the portable telephone 230 makes acontract. That is, when the portable telephone 230 is connected to theimage forming apparatus 210, it mediates communication between the imageforming apparatus 210 and the server 250.

The server 250 is managed by the service center for providing thepublishing service according to the second embodiment, and is realizedby a well-known server apparatus. The server 250 is connected topublishing company servers provided at publishing companies A, B and C.Therefore, when the service server closes license contracts with thepublishing companies A, B and C, the server 250 is allowed to useelectronic data of articles appeared in magazines which are published bythe publishing companies and the copyrights of which belong to thepublishing companies. Therefore, the server 250 can obtain and store theelectronic data (hereinafter, it will be called “stored article data”)previously.

The server 250 extracts stored article data desired by the user from thestored article data which are stored previously, and generates providedarticle data. When receiving request to send the data from the imageforming apparatus 210, the server 250 sends the specified providedarticle data to the image forming apparatus 210.

Then, the image forming apparatus 210 and the server 250 will beexplained in detail.

As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 210 comprises a displaypanel 213 a, an operation panel 212 a, a scanner cover 214 a, aconnector 218 a to which the portable telephone 230 is connected, adocument table 214 a and an inkjet-type image forming section 2151 on anupper surface of the apparatus body, and an electrophotography-typeimage forming section 2152 and a post-processing section 216 in aninside of the apparatus body.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of the imageforming apparatus 210.

As shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus 210 comprises acontroller 211, an operation section 212, a display section 213, animage reading section 214, the inkjet-type image forming section 2151,the electrophotography-type image forming section 2152, thepost-processing section 216, a storage 217 and a communication section218.

The controller 211 comprises and is realized by a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit), a ROM (Read Only memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory)or the like. The controller 211 controls each section for the imageforming apparatus 210 in a concentrated way.

More specifically, when the CPU responds to a signal inputted throughthe communication section 218 or the operation section 212, the CPUreads out various types of control programs stored in the ROM or thestorage 217 and develops them in the RAM. Then, the CPU performs variousprocessing according to the programs, to make each section function ofthe image forming apparatus 210 function. At the time, the CPU storesresults of the processing in the RAM, and displays them in the displaysection 213 or sends them to the server 250 through the communicationsection 218 or the portable telephone 230, as necessary.

The ROM is a read-only semiconductor memory, and stores the basicprograms performed by the CPU, data or the like. The ROM may be anerasable/writable storage medium. In the case, the ROM has a structurefor obtaining and storing programs or data inputted from an externalthrough the communication section 218 so that the CPU performs variousprocessing according to the programs or the data.

The RAM is a storage medium for storing data temporally. A program areain which the programs to be performed by the CPU are developed, a dataarea for storing data inputted through the communication section 218 orthe operation section 212, results of various processing performed bythe CPU or the like, an image data area for storing image data inputtedthrough the image reading section 214 or the communication section 218are formed in the RAM.

The controller 211 comprises functions of an image forming controlsection 2111 and a printer controller. According to the function of theprinter controller, the controller 211 determines whether full-colorphotograph data are included in the provided article data sent from theserver 250 through the communication section 218 or not.

The image forming control section 2111 controls the inkjet-type imageforming section 2151 and the electrophotography-type image formingsection 2152 according to the result that the function of the printercontroller determines whether the full-color photograph data areincluded in the provided article data or not, to perform printprocessing to the provided article data. The image forming controlsection 2111 comprises a tray for containing various types of printingpapers, and a carrier mechanism for carrying the printing paper.Therefore, the image forming control section 2111 carries and suppliesthe specified type and size of the printing paper to the image formingsection 2151 or 2152 to perform the print processing.

The operation section 212 is an input member used by the user forinputting, for example, a user name as an account as follows, or anelectronic key. Therefore, the operation section 212 corresponds to theoperation panel 212 a comprising numeric keys or various types offunction keys (a start button or the like) shown in FIG. 7. When any keyis pushed, the operation section 212 outputs the pushed signal to thecontroller 211. The operation section 212 may be a touch panel whichcombines the operation section 212 with the display section 213.

The display section 213 corresponds to the display panel 213 consistingof a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) or thelike, shown in FIG. 7. The display section 213 displays, for example, ascreen such as a menu screen, a determination screen for the printingsystem as follows or the like thereon, according to a display signaloutputted from the controller 211.

The image reading section 214 reads out predetermined documents placedon the document table 214 b according to a reading signal outputted fromthe controller 211. The image reading section 214 includes the scannercover 214 a and the document table 241 b shown in FIG. 7, and a scannerunder the document table 214 b. The scanner comprises a light source, alens, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like. When the scanner makesthe light source irradiate light to the document and scans the documentwith the light, the scanner reads out the image of the document bygathering and converting the reflection photo-electrically. The imagedata read by the image reading section 214 are stored in the RAM of thecontroller 211 temporarily. The image includes not only image data offigures or photographs but also text data of characters, marks or thelike.

The inkjet-type image forming section 2151 is an image forming memberfor forming images according to the inkjet system. More specifically,the inkjet-type image forming section 2151 comprises ink cartridges forcolors such as cyan, magenta, yellow, black or the like. The inkjet-typeimage forming section 2151 ejects ink dots to the printing paper torecords the image on the printing paper according to image dataoutputted from the image forming control section 2111. The ink ejectingmethod may be any system such as the bubble jet (registered trademark)system, a thermal ink jet system, a piezo system or the like.

The electrophotography-type image forming section 2152 is an imageforming member for forming images according to the electro-photographicsystem. More specifically, the electrophotography-type image formingsection 2152 comprises an electrification section, an exposure section,a development section, a fix section or the like. The exposure sectionexposes a photosensitive drum with a laser beam or a LED (Light EmittingDiode), and forms static electric latent image according to image dataon the photosensitive drum. Then, the development section makes thephotosensitive drum adsorb a toner, and transcribes the toner adsorbedby the photosensitive drum to the printing paper supplied by the imageforming control section 2111. Thereafter, the fix section fixes thetoner on the printing paper by heating the photosensitive drum.

The printing papers on which the images are formed (printed) based onthe image data by the inkjet-type image forming section 2151 or theelectrophotography-type image forming section 2152 are carried to thepost-processing section 216 by a carrying system controlled by thecontroller 211, in order.

The post-processing section 216 performs a predetermined post-processingto the carried printed matter, and ejects it to an eject tray 2161according to the instruction of the controller 211. For example, thepost-processing includes not only simple post-processing such as punchprocessing for punching a binding hole at a predetermined position ofthe printed matter, staple processing for stapling the printed matter,trimmer processing for trimming the printed matter in specified size orthe like, pamphlet preparing processing for preparing a pamphlet byfolding and binding the printed matter, binding processing for bindingthe printed matter simply and so on.

The storage 217 comprises, for example, a HDD (Hard Disc Drive), andstores programs or data in the HDD according to the instruction of thecontroller 211. For example, when the controller 211 instructs thestorage 217 to write programs or data, the storage 217 determines spaceamount of the HDD, and stores specified information in the space area.When the controller 211 instructs the storage 217 to read programs ofdata, the storage 217 reads specified information out of the HDD, andoutputs the information to the controller 211.

The storage 217 stores processing programs, processing data or the likefor performing various types of processing according to the presentinvention. The processing program includes a program for performingprinted matter providing processing (shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B) asfollows, and the processing data include printing data for a coversheet, electronic watermark data for controlling a copy of thepublication and protecting the copyright or the like.

The communication section 218 includes the connector 218 a shown in FIG.7, and is a communication member for transferring data with the portabletelephone 230 connected to the connector 218 a. That is, when the userconnects a connector provided at a lower portion of the portabletelephone 230 to the connector 218 a, the communication section 218performs data communication between the image forming apparatus 210 andthe portable telephone 230.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a functional structure of the server250.

As shown in FIG. 9, the server 250 comprises functional sections of acontroller 251, a storage 252 and a communication section 253.

The controller 251 is realized by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM or the like, andcontrols each section for the server 250 in a concentrated way.

More specifically, the CPU reads out various control programs stored inthe ROM or the storage 252 and develops the programs in the RAMaccording to signals inputted through the communication section 253.Then, the CPU performs various types of processing based on the programsto make each section of the server 250 function. At the time, the CPUstores results of various types of processing in the RAM, and sends theresults from the communication section 253 to the image formingapparatus 210 through the portable telephone 230 as necessary.

The ROM is a read-only semiconductor memory, and stores basic programsperformed by the CPU, data or the like.

The RAM is a storage medium for storing data temporarily. The RAM has aprogram area for developing programs performed by the CPU 1110, a dataarea for storing data inputted through the communication section 253,results of various processing performed by the CPU or the like, an imagedata area for temporarily storing image data inputted through thecommunication section 253 or the like.

The storage 252 comprises, for example, a HDD (Hard Disc Drive), andstores programs, data or the like in the HDD according to theinstruction of the controller 251. For example, when the controller 251instructs the storage 252 to write programs or data, the storage 252determines space amount of the HDD, and stores specified information inthe space area. When the controller 251 instructs the storage 252 toread programs of data, the storage 217 reads specified information outof the HDD, and outputs the information to the controller 251.

The storage 252 stores processing programs, processing data or the likefor making the controller 251 perform various types of processingaccording to the second embodiment. The processing program includesprograms for performing the printed matter providing processing (shownin FIGS. 14A and 14B) and provided article data generating processing(shown in FIG. 15) as follows. The processing data include an article DB2521, a registered user table 2522, a provided article table 2523 and animage forming apparatus table 2524.

The article DB 2521 is a database for storing a lot of electronic data(that is, stored article data) of articles appeared in magazines whichare published by the publishing companies A, B and C and the copyrightsof which belong to the publishing companies A, B and C, so that theserver 250 is allowed to use the electronic data because the serviceserver closes license contracts with the publishing companies A, B andC. The stored article data are classified/stored according to apredetermined classification such as, for example, the publishingcompany, the magazine in which the article data are appeared, the authoror the like, and the most latest data are stored at any time. The storedarticle data include text data such as characters, marks or the like,photograph data and so on.

The registered user table 2522 is a table for managing information onusers which are registered in the service center and desire to have thepublishing service, and one example of a data structure of theregistered user table 2522 is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of a data structure of theregistered user table 2522.

As shown in FIG. 10, the registered user table 2522 stores data of anelectronic mail address, an address, the date (receiving desired data)on which the user desires to receive the publication and the article(receiving desired article) related to a name (user name) of the userdesiring to have the publishing service, for every user name.

Herein, the electronic mail address is used for informing the user ofthe state capable of providing the publication. The address is used fordetermining the nearest image forming apparatus 210 capable of providingthe publication for the user. That is, the electronic mail including thename of the shop at which the nearest image forming apparatus 210 isdisposed and the following electronic key is sent to the electronic mailaddress, so as to inform that the publication can be provided.

The receiving desired article includes a condition concerning thearticle which the user desires to receive, that is, an extractioncondition for extracting predetermined provided article data from thearticle DB 2521. The detailed data structure of the receiving desiredarticle is shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of the data structure of thereceiving desired article. As shown in FIG. 11, the data structure ofthe receiving desired article corresponding to the user “A” in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 11, the receiving desired article includes data of aname of the magazine in which the article is appeared, the publicationdata of the magazine and a name of the publishing company related to atitle (article title) of the article which the user desires to receive,for every article title. The user can desire to receive some articles.

That is, the user “A” is registered so as to receive three articles onthe 30th every month, the three articles including (1) the “serialarticle by O.A.” appeared in the magazine “monthly magazine T” publishedfrom the publishing company A on the 10th every month, (2) the “serialarticle by R.T.” appeared in the magazine “T and R's travel diary”published from the publishing company B on the 20th every month, and (3)the “serial article by S.M.” appeared in the magazine “monthly visit togourmet restaurant” published from the publishing company C on the 25thevery month.

Herein, the receiving desired article can be registered in the servicecenter according to any method. For example, when the user accesses tothe Web site provided by the server 250 through the portable telephone230 or a PC (Personal Computer) comprising the browser function, inputspredetermined matters in a format of a registration page and sends them,the receiving desired article can be registered in the service center.

The provided article table 2523 is a table for managing information asto provide the publishing service for the registered user, and oneexample of a data structure of the provided article table 2523 is shownin FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is a table showing an example of the data structure of theprovided article table 2523.

As shown in FIG. 12, the provided article table 2523 stores providedarticle data and data of an electronic key related to the registereduser name, for every user name.

The provided article data are data generated based on the receivingdesired article so as to be sent to the image forming apparatus 210 onthe date (receiving desired date) on which the user desires to receive.

For example, concerning the above-described user “A” the providedarticle data are data to which electronic data of three articles (1) to(3) in FIG. 11 are edited, and generated on the day before the receivingdesired data so as to be sent on the 30th every month as the receivingdesired date.

The electronic key is one of identification information used to identifythe user as a legal user when the user has the publishing service byusing the image forming apparatus 210. The different electronic key isrelated to each provided article data.

The image forming apparatus table 2524 is a table for managinginformation on the image forming apparatus 210 capable of providing thepublication according to the publishing service, that is, the imageforming apparatus 210 capable of performing the printing/binding basedon the provided article data by obtaining the provided article data fromthe server 250. One example of a data structure of the image formingapparatus table 2524 is shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a table showing an example of the data structure of the imageforming apparatus table 2524.

As shown in FIG. 13, the image forming apparatus table 2524 stores adisposed place (the shop name, the address or the like) to which theimage forming apparatus 210 is disposed for every identification numberof the image forming apparatus 210 as an object of management.

When the electronic mail is sent so as to inform the user of that thedesired publication can be provided for the user, the name of the shopat which the nearest image forming apparatus 210 to the address of theuser is disposed are searched on the image forming apparatus table 2524.One or a plurality of names of shops may be searched as described above.

The communication section 253 shown in FIG. 9 is an interface forcommunicating data with another apparatus (mainly, the portabletelephone 230, publishing company servers disposed at the publishingcompanies A, B and C) through the Internet when connected to an Internetprovider. The communication section 253 comprises, for example, arouter.

Next, the processing according to the second embodiment will beexplained.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are flowcharts showing the printed matter providingprocessing. The printed matter providing processing is processingperformed when the user receives the desired publication by using theimage forming apparatus 210. According to the processing, the userinputs operations through the operation section 212 with watching thescreen displayed on the display section of the image forming apparatus210. The user is not limited to it, and can input operations by using adisplay section and an operation section of the portable telephone 230.

As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, when the portable telephone 230 which theuser takes with him or her is connected to the connector 218 a of theimage forming apparatus 210 and the user instructs the image formingapparatus 210 to receive the publication through the operation section212 (Step S261), the image forming apparatus 210 displays a message formaking the user input the user name as one of accounts and theelectronic key on the display section 213.

When the user name and the electronic key are inputted through theoperation section 212, the image forming apparatus 210 is connected tothe server 250 through the portable telephone 230 (Step S262), and sendsthe user name and the electronic key inputted and further request tosend corresponding provided article data to the server 250 (Step S263).

When receiving the user name, the electronic key and the request to sendprovided article data from the image forming apparatus 210, the server250 searches provided article data corresponding to the user name andthe electronic key received with reference to the provided article table2523 (Step S264). Then, the server 250 sends the searched providedarticle data to the image forming apparatus 210 (Step S265).

When there are not corresponding provided article data, the server 250informs the image forming apparatus 210 of “there are not correspondingdata”. When the received electronic key does not agree with anelectronic key corresponding to the received user name stored in theprovided article table 2523, the server 250 determines that the user isnot a legal user, and sends information on “it is impossible to sentprovided article data” to the image forming apparatus 210.

When receiving the provided article data, the image forming apparatus210 determines whether full-color photograph data are included in thereceived provided article data or not (Step S266), and determines theprinting system on the result of the determination.

That is, when determining that full-color photograph data are includedin the provided article data (Step S266; YES), the image formingapparatus 210 displays a message for making the user select any one ofthe electro-photographic system and the inkjet system to print a pageincluding the full-color photograph, so that the user selects any one ofthe systems through the operation section 212 (Step S267).

When the user selects the electro-photographic system (Step S267; NO),the image forming apparatus 210 determines the printing system so as toprint all contents of the provided article data according to theelectro-photographic system (Step S269). On the other hand, when theuser selects the inkjet system (Step S267; YES), the image formingapparatus 210 determines the printing system so as to print the pageincluding the full-color photograph according to the inkjet system andother pages according to the electro-photographic system (Step S268).

In step S266 when determining that full-color photograph data are notincluded in the provided article data (Step S266; NO), the image formingapparatus 210 determines the printing system so as to print all contentsof the provided article data according to the electro-photographicsystem (Step S269).

When determining the printing system, the image forming apparatus 210then calculates about time to print and bind the data on the determinedprinting system, data amount of the provided article data or the like,and displays the time as time to keep the user waiting on the displaysection 213 (Step S270).

Then, when the user instructs to start printing and binding through theoperation section 212, for example, by pushing a start key (Step S271;YES), the image forming apparatus 210 starts printing and binging basedon the provided article data according to the above-determined printingsystem (Step S272).

That is, the image forming apparatus 210 edits the provided article datain the predetermined printing layout, and prints the edited dataaccording to the print condition of the “inkjet system” or the“electro-photographic system” as determined above. At the time, theimage forming apparatus 210 reads out electronic watermark data storedin the storage 217, and performs the image forming based on the readelectronic watermark data, when performing the image forming based onthe provide article data.

When performing the print processing based on the provide article data,the image forming apparatus 210 performs predetermined post-processingto the printed matter. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 210 bindsand ejects the printed matter to the eject tray 2161, and provide onepublication form the user. When finishing printing and binding, theimage forming apparatus 210 informs the server 250 of the printing andbinding completion (Step S273), and finishes the printed matterproviding processing.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing provided article data generatingprocessing. The processing is one performed by the server 250 at thepredetermined time before the receiving desired date stored in theregistered user table 2522 for every user registered in the servicecenter. The processing is performed after all magazines in which thereceiving desired articles are appeared are published.

As shown in FIG. 15, the controller 251 of the server 250 extractscorresponding stored article data from the article DB 2521 withreference to the registered user table 2522 (Step S281). Then, thecontroller 251 arranges the extracted stored article data for oneprovided article data (Step S282). When generating the electronic key,the controller 251 relates the provided article data to the generatedelectronic key, and adds them to the provided article data table 2523(Step S283).

Then, the controller 251 sends the electronic mail for informing theuser of that the publication can be received to the electronic mailaddress of the user. At the time, the controller 251 searches one or aplurality of names of shops at which the image forming apparatuses 210near to the address of the user are disposed with reference to the imageforming apparatus table 2524, and generates the mail including thesearched shop names and the generated electronic key (Step S284).

As described above, when the controller 251 generates the electronicdata (provided article data) of the publication to be provided for theuser and informs the user of that they can be provided, the server 250finishes the provided article data generating processing.

As described above, the server 250 disposed in the service centermanages electronic data (stored article data) of the publications thecopyrights of which the publishing companies A, B and C own on the basisof the article DB 2521, extracts stored article data on user's demandfrom the article DB 2521, and generates provided article data. Then, theimage forming apparatus 210 obtains the provided article datacorresponding to the inputted user name and electronic key from theserver 250, forms images based on the provided article data,prints/binds the formed images and provides the publication for theuser.

Accordingly, when the user selects only desired articles, it is possibleto provide an original publication (printed matter) printed and bound onuser's demand. That is, the user can select and obtain only the desiredarticles without restriction of the publishing company.

Because the image forming apparatus 210 comprises two image formingsections of the inkjet-type image forming section 2151 and theelectrophotography-type image forming section 2152 as the image formingmember, it is possible to determine two systems of the inkjet system forprinting high-quality images and the electro-photographic system forprinting images at high speed as the printing system. When colorphotograph data are included in the provide article data, because theinkjet-type image forming section 2151 forms images, it is possible toprovide high-quality finished printed matter for the user withoutlowering the quality of the full-color photograph.

Because image forming apparatus 210 forms images based on electronicwatermark data when forming images, it is possible to provide thecopyright of the printed matter (publication) to be provided for theuser.

Although the present invention has been explained according to theabove-described embodiment, it should also be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiment and various chantedand modifications may be made to the invention without departing fromthe gist thereof.

For example, the electronic key may be stored in the portable telephone230. In the case, when the portable telephone 230 is connected to theimage forming apparatus 210, the image forming apparatus 210 may readout the electronic key stored in the portable telephone 230 and send itand the request to send data to the server 250.

The serial article appearing in the magazine published periodically isthe object according to the above-described embodiment. For example, asingle-appearing article or a publication such as a novel or the likemay be the object, and the publication (printed matter) may be providedfor the user only one time or at predetermined times.

The server 250 may store the telephone number as one of identificationinformation on the portable telephone 230 related to the providedarticle data, instead of the user name as one of identificationinformation. In the case, when the image forming apparatus 210 connectsto the server 250 through the portable telephone 230 connected to theimage forming apparatus 210, the image forming apparatus 210 informs theserver 250 of the telephone number of the portable telephone 230. Then,the server 250 sends the provided article data corresponding to thetelephone number to the image forming apparatus 210.

The print condition and the post-processing condition when the imageforming apparatus 210 forms images based on the provided article datamay determined by not the image forming apparatus 210 but the userarbitrarily.

As described above, the server 250 can convert articles appearing in thepublication such as, for example, a magazine or the like to electronicdata, and store them as the stored article data. Then, the server 250can extract stored data corresponding to the article desired by the userfrom the stored article data, relate the stored data to the account andstore them as the provided article data. Further, the server 250 cansend the electronic mail including the account to the user.

On the other hand, when the user receiving the electronic mail inputsthe account included in the electronic mail, the image forming apparatus210 can request the server 250 to send the provided article datacorresponding to the inputted account. Consequently, the image formingapparatus 210 can form images and provide them for the user, forexample, as the printed matter on the basis of the provided article datasent from the server 250 according to the request.

Because the server 250 stores the stored article data which areelectronic data of publications (articles) obtained by closing thelicense contract with a plurality of publishing companies, the imageforming apparatus 210 can provide original printed matter on use'sdemand more without the restriction of the publishing companies.

Because the image forming apparatus 210 comprises a plurality of imageforming sections for forming images according to different image formingsystems, the image forming apparatus 210 can select any image formingsection according to the rate of the color photograph data included inthe provided article data. That is, for example, the image formingapparatus 210 can select the inkjet system for printing high-qualityimages in first case the color photograph data are included in theprovided article data, or the electrophotography type for printingimages at high speed in second case other than the first case. As aresult, it is possible to provide the high-quality finished printedmatter for the user without lowering the quality of the colorphotograph.

Third Embodiment

Hereinafter, the third embodiment of the present invention will beexplained in detail with reference to figures.

Although the present invention will be explained in case the presentinvention is applied to an image forming apparatus as a copying machinedisposed at a shop such as a convenience store or the like, it is notlimited to the case.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a service system 300 according tothe third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 16, the service system 300 mainly comprises an imageforming apparatus 310, a portable telephone 330 and a managementapparatus 350 disposed in the service center.

The image forming apparatus 310 is a so-called copying machine disposedat a shop such as a convenience store or the like, for forming imagesaccording to operation instructions of the user, substantially like theimage forming apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment or theimage forming apparatus 210 according to the second embodiment. Whenperforming image forming processing, the image forming apparatus 310communicates data with the management apparatus 350 through the portabletelephone 330 connected to the image forming apparatus 310.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an example of an externalappearance of the image forming apparatus 310.

As shown in FIG. 17, the image forming apparatus 310 comprises a displaypanel 313 a, an operation panel 312 a, a scanner cover 314 a, aconnector 318 a and a document table 314 b on an upper surface thereof.FIG. 17 shows the state the scanner cover 314 a is opened.

The user operates the operation panel 312 a to input various types ofoperation instructions with watching the display panel 313 a. Forexample, when the user copies a document, the user places the documenton the document table 314 b and closes the scanner cover 314 a. Then,when the user operates the operation panel 312 a with watching thedisplay panel 313 a, to determine a print condition, and pushes a startbutton, the user makes the image forming apparatus 310 start reading andprinting the document.

The connector 318 a is used for connected the portable telephone 330which the user takes with him or her to the image forming apparatus 310.The user connects the connector 318 a to a connector provided at a lowerposition of the portable telephone 330 to make the image formingapparatus 310 communicate data with the portable telephone 330.

That is, when the image forming apparatus 310 is connected to theportable telephone 330 through the connector 318 a, the image formingapparatus 310 communicates data with the management apparatus 350through the portable telephone 330.

As shown in FIG. 16, the portable telephone 330 is realized by awell-known wireless telephone comprising a wireless call function and awireless data communication function, like the portable telephone 130according to the first embodiment or the portable telephone 230according to the second embodiment. The portable telephone 330 performsdata communication with the management apparatus 350 through a wirelessbase station 341 belonging to a telephone company 340 with which theportable telephone 330 makes a contract.

The management apparatus 350 is managed by the service center forproviding the service according to the third embodiment, and is realizedby a well-known server apparatus. The management apparatus 350 isconnected performs data communication with the image forming apparatus310 through the portable telephone 330 connected to the image formingapparatus 310.

Next, structured of the image forming apparatus 310, the portabletelephone 330 and the management apparatus 350 will be explained asfollows.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a main structure of the image formingapparatus 310.

As shown in FIG. 18, the image forming apparatus 310 comprises acontroller 311, an operation section 312, a display section 313, animage reading section 314, an image forming section 315, a ROM 316, aRAM 317 and a communication section 318.

The controller 311 comprises, for example, a CPU, and controls eachsection for the image forming apparatus 310 in a concentrated wayaccording to various types of control programs stored in the ROM 316.More specifically, when the controller 311 reads out various types ofcontrol programs stored in the ROM 316 and stores them in the RAM 317temporarily according to a signal inputted through the communicationsection 318 or the operation section 312. Then, the controller 311performs various processing according to the programs, to make eachsection function of the image forming apparatus 310 function. At thetime, the controller 311 displays results of the processing on thedisplay section 313 or sends them to the management apparatus 350 fromthe communication section 318 through the portable telephone 330, asnecessary.

The operation section 312 is one used by the user for inputtingoperation instructions, and corresponds to the operation panel 312 acomprising various types of operation buttons or the like (for example,numeric keys or a start button) having proper functions respectively,shown in FIG. 7. The operation section 312 outputs a pushed signal of abutton pushed by the user on the operation panel 312 a, to thecontroller 311. The operation section 312 may be a touch panel whichcombines the operation section 312 with the display section 313.

The display section 313 displays, for example, a menu screen fordetermining a print condition, or the like, according to a displaysignal outputted from the controller 311. The display section 313corresponds to the display panel 313 a consisting of a LCD, an EL or thelike, shown in FIG. 17.

The image reading section 314 reads out, for example, predetermineddocuments placed on the document table 314 b according to a readingsignal outputted from the controller 311. The image reading section 314includes the scanner cover 314 a and the document table 314 b shown inFIG. 17, and a scanner under the document table 314 b. The scannercomprises a light source, a lens, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or thelike. When the scanner makes the light source irradiate light to thedocument and scans the document with the light, the scanner reads outthe image of the document by gathering and converting the reflectionphoto-electrically. The image data read by the image reading section 314are stored in the RAM 317 temporarily. The image includes not only imagedata of figures or photographs but also text data of characters, marksor the like.

The image forming section 315 comprises a LD (Laser Diode), aphotosensitive drum, a toner, a feeder, an eject section of the like.The image forming section 315 carries a printing paper of the size inthe direction instructed through the operation section 312 from thefeeder according to the control signal outputted from the controller311, and drives the LD to form a static electric latent image on asurface of the photosensitive drum according to the image signaloutputted from the controller 311. Then, the image forming section 315makes the toner adhere to an area at which the static electric latentimage is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, transcribesthe toner on the printing paper carried from feeder so that the toner isfixed on the printing paper, and ejects the printing paper from theeject section.

The ROM 316 is a read-only semiconductor memory, and stores basicprograms performed by the controller 311, processing programs forperforming various processing according to the embodiment, data or thelike. The processing programs include a program for performing imageforming apparatus use processing (as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B) asfollows.

The ROM 316 may be an erasable/writable storage medium such as a flushmemory or the like. In the case, the ROM 316 has a structure forobtaining and storing programs or data inputted from an external throughthe communication section 318 so that the controller 311 performsvarious processing according to the programs or the data.

The RAM 317 is a storage medium for storing data temporally. A programarea in which the programs to be performed by the controller 311 aredeveloped, a data area for storing data inputted through thecommunication section 318 or the operation section 312, results ofvarious processing performed by the controller 311 or the like, an imagedata area for storing image data inputted through the image readingsection 314 or the communication section 318 or the like is formed inthe RAM 317.

The communication section 318 includes the connector 318 a shown in FIG.17, and is an interface for connecting the image forming apparatus 310to the portable telephone 330 connected to the connector 318 a, so as totransfer data between the image forming apparatus 310 and the portabletelephone 330.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a main structure of the portabletelephone 330.

As shown in FIG. 19, the portable telephone 330 comprises a controller331, an operation section 332, a display section 333, a wirelesscommunication section 334, a ROM 335, a RAM 336 and a storage 337.

The controller 331 controls each section for the portable telephone 330in a concentrated way. When the controller 331 performs variousprocessing according to various types of control programs read out ofthe ROM 335, the controller 331 stores results of the processing inpredetermined areas of the storage 337, and displays them on the displaysection 333.

The operation section 332 comprises various types of function keys suchas numeric keys, operation keys or the like, a power supply switch orthe like. When detecting that a key or switch is pushed, the operationsection 332 outputs a pushed signal of the pushed key or switch to thecontroller 311.

The display section 333 is composed of a small-size liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) or the like, and displays a screen according to displaydata outputted from the controller 331.

The wireless communication section 334 is connected to a wireless basestation 341 so as to realize various types of information communicationwith the management apparatus 350. The wireless communication section334 comprises a wireless antenna, a modulation and demodulation circuit,an encoding/decoding circuit, an amplifier circuit or the like.

The ROM 335 is composed of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as aflush memory or the like, and stores basic programs performed by theportable telephone 330, processing programs for performing variousprocessing according to the third embodiment, data or the like. Theprocessing programs include programs for performing image formingapparatus use processing (as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B) and electronicprepaid ticket purchase processing (as shown in FIG. 24) as follows.

The ROM 335 may be an erasable/writable storage medium such as a flushmemory or the like. In the case, the ROM 335 has a structure forobtaining and storing programs or data inputted from an external throughthe wireless communication section 334 so that the controller 331performs various processing according to the programs or the data.

The RAM 336 is used as a work area for storing programs or data obtainedthrough the ROM 335, the wireless communication section 334 or theoperation section 332 or processed data or the like temporally accordingto various processing performed by the controller 331.

The storage 337 is composed of a magnetic storage medium, an opticalstorage medium, a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor or thelike, and can be read/written under control of the controller 331. Thestorage 337 stores an electronic prepaid ticket 3317.

FIG. 20 is a table showing an example of a data structure of theelectronic prepaid ticket 3371.

As shown in FIG. 20, the electronic prepaid ticket 3371 includes theusable number of sheets as electronic prepaid information, andinformation on the electronic key as identification information.

The usable number of sheets is the number of sheets on which the imageforming apparatus 310 can form images when the portable telephone 330 isconnected to the image forming apparatus 310. That is, the number ofsheets on which the images have been formed is reduced from the usablenumber of sheets even when the image forming apparatus 310 is used.Further, the purchase number of sheets is added to the usable number ofsheets when the electronic prepaid ticket is bought.

The electronic key is information for identifying the user when the useruses the image forming apparatus 310, and includes user ID informationand purchase date and time information published by the managementapparatus automatically when the use buys the electronic prepaid ticket.In order to prevent the information from being misused, when the userbuys the electronic prepaid ticket additional or uses the image formingapparatus 310, one part (for example, the date, the time or the like) ofthe information included in the electronic key is renewed.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a main structure of the managementapparatus 350.

As shown in FIG. 21, the management apparatus 350 comprises a controller351, a ROM 352, a RAM 353, a communication section 354 and a storage355.

The controller 351 comprises, for example, a CPU, and controls themanagement apparatus 350 in a concentrated way according to varioustypes of control programs stored in the storage 355.

The ROM 352 is a read-only semiconductor memory, and stores basicprograms performed by the controller 351, processing programs forperforming various processing according to the third embodiment, data orthe like. The processing programs include programs for performing imageforming apparatus use processing (shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B) andelectronic prepaid ticket purchase processing (shown in FIG. 24) asfollows.

The ROM 352 may be an erasable/writable storage medium such as a flushmemory or the like. In the case, the ROM 352 has a structure forobtaining and storing programs or data inputted from an external fromthe communication section 354, so that the controller 351 performsvarious processing according to the obtained program or data.

The RAM 353 is used as a work area for storing programs or data obtainedfrom the ROM 352 or through the communication section 354, processeddata or the like according to various processing performed by thecontroller 351 temporarily.

The communication section 354 is an interface for communicating datawith another apparatus (mainly, the portable telephone 330 or thetelephone company) through the Internet. The communication section 354is realized by, for example, a router or the like.

The storage 355 comprises, for example, a HDD, and stores basic programsperformed by the controller 351, processing programs or processing datafor performing various types of processing according to the thirdembodiment, or the like. The processing programs include programs forperforming image forming apparatus use processing (shown in FIGS. 23Aand 23B) and electro prepaid ticket purchase processing (shown in FIG.24) as follows, and the processing data include an electronic prepaidticket management table 3551.

FIG. 22 is a table showing an example of a data structure of theelectronic prepaid ticket management table 3551. The electronic prepaidticket management table 3551 is a table for managing information on theelectronic prepaid ticket for every portable telephone 330.

That is, as shown in FIG. 22, the electronic prepaid ticket managementtable 3551 stores the electronic prepaid ticket related to the portabletelephone number for every portable telephone number of the portabletelephone 330. The electronic prepaid ticket includes information on theusable number of sheets and the electronic key.

In the electronic prepaid ticket, the number of used sheets is reducedfrom the usable number of sheets and the electronic key is renewed evenwhen the image forming apparatus 310 is used. Further, the number ofpurchase sheets is added to the usable number of sheets and theelectronic key is renewed even when the electronic prepaid ticket isbought by the portable telephone 330.

Next, the processing according to the present embodiment will beexplained.

First, the processing when using the image forming apparatus (imageforming apparatus use processing) will be explained.

FIGS. 23A and 23B are flowcharts showing the image forming apparatus useprocessing.

As shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, when the portable telephone 330 which theuser takes with him or her is connected to the connector 318 a of theimage forming apparatus 310 (Step S361), the portable telephone 330connects to the management apparatus 350 and sends the electronic keyincluded in the electronic prepaid ticket 3371 to the managementapparatus 350 (Step S362). Herein, when connecting to the managementapparatus 350, the portable telephone 330 sends the own potabletelephone number to the management apparatus 350.

On the other hand, when receiving the portable telephone number sentfrom the portable telephone 330, the management apparatus 350 reads outthe electronic prepaid ticket related to the received portable telephonenumber with reference to the electronic prepaid ticket management table3351. Then, the management apparatus 350 compares the electronic keyincluded in the read electronic prepaid ticket with the receivedelectronic key to determine agreement (Step S363).

As a result of the agreement, when both electronic keys agree with eachother (Step S364; YES), the management apparatus 350 refers to theusable number of sheets included in the read electronic prepaid ticket,to determine whether the image forming apparatus 310 can be used or not.That is, when the usable number of sheets is one or more, the managementapparatus 350 determines that the image forming apparatus 310 can beused. On the other hand, when the usable number of sheets is not lessthan one, the management apparatus 350 determines that the image formingapparatus 310 can not be used (Step S366).

On the other hand, when both electronic keys do not agree with one otheror the electronic prepaid ticket corresponding to the received portabletelephone number is not stored in the electronic prepaid ticketmanagement table 3551 (Step S364; NO), the management apparatus 350determines that the image forming apparatus 310 can not be used (StepS366).

When determining whether the image forming apparatus 310 can be used ornot, the management apparatus 350 sends the use determination result tothe portable telephone 330. At the time, when the use determinationresult is that the image forming apparatus 310 can be used, themanagement apparatus 350 sends the usable number of sheets to theportable telephone 330 (Step S367).

On the other hand, when receiving the use determination result sent fromthe management apparatus 350, the portable telephone 330 forwards theuse determination result to the image forming apparatus 310 (Step S368).Then, when receiving the use determination result forwarded from theportable telephone 330, the image forming apparatus 310 performs thefollowing processing according to the use determination result.

That is, when the use determination result indicates that the imageforming apparatus 310 is unusable (Step S369; NO), the image formingapparatus 310 displays the massage for showing that the image formingapparatus 310 is unusable on the display section 313 (Step S370). Then,the image forming apparatus use processing is finished.

On the other hand, when the use determination result indicates that theimage forming apparatus 310 is usable (Step S369; YES), the imageforming apparatus 310 displays the message for showing that the imageforming apparatus 310 is usable and the received usable number of sheetson the display section 313, to make the user determine the number ofdesired printing sheets, the condition or the like.

Then, when the number of desired printing sheets, the print condition orthe like is determined by the user through the operation section 312(Step S371), the image forming apparatus 310 compares the determinednumber of printing sheets with the usable number of sheets forwardedfrom the portable telephone 330 (Step S372).

As a result of the comparison, when the determined number of sheets iswithin the usable number of sheets (Step S372; YES), the image formingapparatus 310 starts performing the image forming processing accordingto the determine number of sheets in the determined print condition(Step S373).

On the other hand, when the determined number of sheets exceeds theusable number of sheets (Step S372; NO), the image forming apparatus 310displays the message for showing that the determined number exceeds theusable number on the display section 313 to make the user re-determinethe print condition such as the number of printing sheets or the like,or pay excess use charges (coin) (Step S374).

When the print condition such as the number of printing sheets isdetermined again, the image forming apparatus 310 returns to Step S372to compare the re-determined number of sheets with the usable number ofsheets. When the use charges (coin) are paid, the usable number ofsheets is renewed to the value to which the number of sheetscorresponding to the paid use charges (coin) is added. Then, the imageforming apparatus 310 returns to Step S372 to compare the determinednumber with the renewed usable number.

Herein, in order to pay the excess use charges, the use may buy theelectronic prepaid ticket additionally. That is, the portable telephone330 and the management apparatus 350 perform the following electronicprepaid ticket purchase processing (shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B) to makethe user buy the electronic prepaid ticket additional. Then, the imageforming apparatus 310 compares the renewed usable number of sheetsinformed from the management apparatus 350.

Then, when the image forming apparatus 310 completes performing theimage forming processing (Step S373), the image forming apparatus 310informs the portable telephone 330 of the number of printed sheets(number of used sheets) (Step S375).

Then, the portable telephone 330 renews the electronic prepaid ticket3371 according to the number of used sheets informed from the imageforming apparatus 310. That is, the portable telephone 330 reduces theinformed number of used sheets from the present usable number of sheets,and stores the result of reduction as the renewed usable number ofsheets (Step S376). Further, the portable telephone 330 sends theinformed number of used sheets to the management apparatus 350 (StepS377).

When receiving the number of used sheets from the portable telephone330, the management apparatus 350 renews the electronic prepaid ticketmanagement table 3551 according to the number of used sheets. That is,the management apparatus 350 renews information on the correspondingelectronic prepaid ticket. More specifically, the management apparatus350 reduces the informed number of used sheets from the usable number ofsheets corresponding to the portable telephone 330, and stores theresult of the reduction as the renewed usable number of sheets (StepS378). Then, the management apparatus 350 generates the electronic keycorresponding to the usable number of sheets, and stores the generatedelectronic key as the renewed electronic key (Step S379).

Then, the management apparatus 350 sends the generated electronic key tothe portable telephone 330 (Step S380). When the new electronic key isinformed from the management apparatus 350, the portable telephone 330,the portable telephone 330 renews the electronic key in the electronicprepaid ticket 3371 stored to the informed electronic key (Step S381).

When the above-described steps are performed, the image formingapparatus is finished.

Next, the processing when buying the electronic prepaid ticket(electronic prepaid ticket purchase processing) will be explained.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the electronic prepaid ticket purchaseprocessing.

As shown in FIG. 24, the portable telephone 330 accesses to the Web siteon the Internet provided from the management apparatus 350 according tothe operation inputted by the user, for example, when any key of theoperation section 332 is pushed by the user, and displays the Web pagefor the electronic prepaid ticket purchase on the display section 333(Step S381).

Then, when the user inputs the purchase-desired number of sheets of theelectronic prepaid ticket on the Web page through the operation section332, the portable telephone 330 sends the inputted purchase-desirednumber of sheets with the portable telephone number to the managementapparatus 350 (Step S382).

The management apparatus 350 calculates purchase charges by multiplyingthe purchase-desired number of sheets received from the portabletelephone 330 by the image forming cost (Step S383). Then, themanagement apparatus 350 informs the portable telephone 330 of thecalculated purchase charges to obtain purchase acceptance (Step S384).

When the portable telephone 330 informs the management apparatus 350 ofthe purchase acceptance (Step 385), the management apparatus 350 settlesthe purchase charges (Step S386). The method for settling the purchasecharges may be any one such as (1) a method for collecting the purchasecharges with the call charges of the portable telephone 330 later, (2) amethod for settling the purchase charges in a credit card on the sameday, or the like.

When completing to settle the purchase charges, the management apparatus350 generates the electronic key for the purchase (Step S387), andrenews the electronic prepaid ticket corresponding to the portabletelephone number of the portable telephone 330. That is, the managementapparatus 350 renews the usable number of sheets to the value to whichthe purchase number of sheets is added, and renews the electronic key tothe generated electronic key (Step S388).

The management apparatus 350 informs the portable telephone 330 of therenewed usable number of sheets and the generated electronic key (StepS389). Then, when receiving the renewed usable number of sheets and thegenerated electronic key from the management apparatus 350, the portabletelephone 330 renews information on the stores electronic prepaid ticket2271 based on to the informed values (Step S390).

When the above-described steps are performed, the electronic prepaidticket purchase processing is finished.

When the portable telephone 330 does not accept the purchase in StepS385, the management apparatus 350 informs the portable telephone 330 ofthe cancel of the purchase and finishes the processing.

Although the present invention has been explained according to theabove-described third embodiment, it should also be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to the embodiment and various chantedand modifications may be made to the invention without departing fromthe gist thereof. For example, the determination whether the imageforming apparatus 310 can be used or not in Step S366 in FIG. 23A may beperformed by the portable telephone 330 or the image forming apparatus310.

Further, the electronic prepaid ticket may include the usable balanceinstead of the usable number of sheets. When the user uses the imageforming apparatus 310, the use charges are calculated by multiplying thenumber of used sheets by the image forming cost, and reduced from theusable balance.

The service system 300 may have a structure capable of using the imageforming apparatus 310 without using the portable telephone 330. In thecase, the image forming apparatus 310 is connected to a communicationline or the like so as to communicate with the management apparatus 350.

FIGS. 25A and 25B are flowcharts showing the image forming apparatus useprocessing performed by the image forming apparatus 310 and themanagement apparatus 350 according to another embodiment of the thirdembodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, the image forming apparatus 310 sends theelectronic key inputted by the user through the operation section 312 ofthe image forming apparatus 310 to the management apparatus 350 (StepS401). When receiving the electronic key sent from the image formingapparatus 310, the management apparatus 350 performs the same processingas Steps S363 to 366 in FIG. 23A to determine whether the image formingapparatus can be used or not (Steps S402 to 405). Then, the managementapparatus 350 sends the use determination result to the image formingapparatus 310 (Step S406).

When receiving the use determination result from the managementapparatus 350, the image forming apparatus 310 performs the sameprocessing as Steps S369 to 374 in FIG. 23A to perform the image formingprocessing (Steps S407 to 412). Then, when completing performing theimage forming processing, the image forming apparatus 310 informs themanagement apparatus 350 of the number of printed sheets (number of usedsheets) (Step S413).

When receiving the number of used sheets from the image formingapparatus 310, the management apparatus 350 performs the same processingas Steps S378 and 379 in FIG. 23B and renews the electronic key to renewthe electronic prepaid ticket management table 3551 according to thenumber of used sheets (Steps S414 and 415). Then, the managementapparatus 350 sends the generated electronic key to the image formingapparatus 310 (Step S416). When receiving the new electronic key sentfrom the management apparatus 350, the image forming apparatus 310displays the electronic key on the display section 313 to inform theuser of it (Step S417).

When the above-described processing is performed, the image formingapparatus use processing is finished.

As described above, it is possible to get rid of trouble with collectionof use charges in the image forming apparatus 310 for providing theservice for the general user and making profit.

The service systems according to the first, second and third embodimentshave been explained individually. A service system to which threeembodiments are applied, or a service system to which a combination ofany two embodiments is applied may be realized and provide theabove-described services for the user. Specifically, an electriccommunication business establishment for providing electriccommunication service, more specifically, a telephone company or a mostsuitable business establishment to a business using equipment assetsheld on an internet provider for providing connection service with theInternet is an example of a business establishment for providing theservices. Of course, the business establishment and a company formanufacturing and selling the image forming apparatus or a maintenanceestablishment of the image forming apparatus provide the services incooperation.

The entire disclosures of Japanese Patent Application Nos. Tokugan2002-212327 filed on Jul. 22, 2002, 2002-231098 filed on Aug. 8, 2002,and 2002-235606 filed on Aug. 13, 2002 including specifications, claims,drawings and summaries are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

1-36. (canceled)
 37. An image forming apparatus for communicating with amanagement apparatus for storing a plurality of electronic prepaidinformation and authentication information related to the plurality ofelectronic prepaid information respectively, and replaying to inquiryrequest for electronic prepaid information based on authenticationinformation through a portable communication terminal storingauthentication information, the image forming apparatus comprising: aconnector to which the portable communication terminal is connected; acommunication section for controlling the portable communicationterminal connected to the connector, and controlling communication withthe portable communication terminal and the management apparatus; areading section for reading authentication information out of theportable communication terminal; an inquiry request section for sendingthe authentication information read by the reading section to themanagement apparatus through the communication section, and requestingthe management apparatus to inquire the electronic prepaid informationbased on the authentication information; a receiving section forreceiving the electronic prepaid information replied by the managementapparatus requested to inquire by the inquiry request section throughthe communication section; and an image forming control section forcontrolling whether to perform image forming processing or not on thebasis of the electronic prepaid information received by the receivingsection.
 38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the electronic prepaidinformation include at least balance information, and the image formingcontrol section determines a performable number of the image formingprocessing on the basis of the balance information and controls theimage forming processing.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38, furthercomprising: an operation input section for inputting desired performancenumber of the image forming processing; and an accounting section foraccounting in a predetermined system according to an excess number ofthe desired performance number over the performable number, when thedesired performance number inputted by the operation input sectionexceeds the performable number determined based on the balanceinformation by the image forming control section.
 40. The apparatus ofclaim 39, further comprising a display for displaying at least one of aninstruction to pay a shortfall accounted in the predetermined systemaccording to the excess number by the accounting section, and aninstruction to input the desired performance number of the image formingprocessing by the operation input section so as to prevent the shortfallfrom occurring, when the desired performance number inputted by theoperation input section exceeds the performable number determined basedon the balance information by the image forming control section.
 41. Theapparatus of claim 37, further comprising a use information sendingsection for sending use information according to the image formingprocessing controlled by the image forming control section, to theportable communication terminal.
 42. An image forming system comprisingan image forming apparatus, a management apparatus and a portablecommunication terminal, the portable communication terminal comprising:an authentication information storage for storing authenticationinformation therein; an authentication information sending section forsending the authentication information stored in the authenticationinformation storage to the image forming apparatus; a first transfersection for transferring electronic prepaid information sent from themanagement apparatus to the image forming apparatus; and a secondtransfer section for transferring use information sent from the imageforming apparatus to the management apparatus, the management apparatuscomprising: an electronic prepaid information storage for storing aplurality of electronic prepaid information and authentication relatedto the plurality of electronic prepaid information respectively therein;an electronic prepaid information sending section for sending electronicprepaid information corresponding to authentication information sentfrom the portable communication terminal to the portable communicationterminal, in response to inquiry request for the electronic prepaidinformation based on the authentication information; and a renewingsection for renewing the electronic prepaid information stored in theelectronic prepaid information storage according to the user informationtransferred from the portable communication terminal, the image formingapparatus comprising: a connector to which the portable communicationterminal is connected; an image forming control section for controllingwhether to perform image forming processing or no on the electronicprepaid information transferred from the portable communicationterminal; and a use information sending section for sending useinformation based on the image forming processing to the portablecommunication terminal.
 43. The system of claim 42, wherein theelectronic prepaid information includes at least balance information,and the image forming control section determines performable number ofthe image forming processing on the basis of the balance information,and controls the image forming processing.
 44. The system of claim 43,wherein the image forming section further comprising: an operation inputsection for inputting desired performance number of the image formingprocessing; and an accounting section for accounting in a predeterminedsystem according to an excess number of the desired performance numberover the performable number, when the desired performance numberinputted by the operation input section exceeds the performable numberdetermined based on the balance information by the image forming controlsection.
 45. The system of claim 42, wherein the renewing section of themanagement apparatus renews the electronic prepaid information stored inthe electronic prepaid information storage according to the useinformation transferred from the portable communication terminal, andrenews the authentication information related to the electronic prepaidinformation renewed, the management apparatus further comprises anauthentication information sending section for sending theauthentication information renewed by the renewing section to theportable communication terminal, and the portable communication terminalfurther comprises an authentication information renewing section forrenewing the authentication information stored in ten authenticationinformation storage on the basis of the authentication information sentfrom the management apparatus.
 46. The system of claim 45, wherein theportable communication terminal further comprises a purchase desirednumber sending section for sending a purchase desired number of theimage forming processing performed by the image forming apparatus, tothe image forming apparatus, and the renewing section of the managementapparatus renews the electronic prepaid information stored in theelectronic prepaid information storage according to the purchase desirednumber sent from the portable communication terminal, and renews theauthentication information related to the electronic prepaid informationrenewed.
 47. An image forming apparatus for communicating with amanagement apparatus for storing a plurality of electronic prepaidinformation and authentication information related to the plurality ofelectronic prepaid information respectively and replying inquiry requestfor electronic prepaid information based on authentication information,through a communication line, the image forming apparatus comprising: anoperation section for inputting authentication information; acommunication section for communicating with the management apparatusthrough the communication line connected to the image forming apparatus,when the authentication information is inputted by the operationsection; an inquiry request section for sending the authenticationinformation inputted by the operation section to the managementapparatus through the communication section, and making the inquiryrequest for the electronic prepaid information based on theauthentication information; a receiving section for receiving theelectronic prepaid information replied by the management apparatus inresponse to the inquiry request made by the inquiry request sectionthrough the communication section; and an image forming control sectionfor controlling whether to perform image forming processing on the basisof the electronic prepaid information received by the receiving section.48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the electronic prepaidinformation includes at least balance information, and the apparatusfurther comprises a display for displaying a performable number of theimage forming processing on the basis of balance information.
 49. Theapparatus of claim 47, wherein the electronic prepaid informationincludes at least balance information, and the image forming controlsection determines a performable number of the image forming processingon the basis of balance information, and controls the image formingprocessing.